Authors use themes to convey messages through their writing. They are the central, recurring ideas that often touch upon fundamental experiences, such as love, loss, power and identity. Throughout the poem “David”, Earle Birney uses numerous themes to communicate messages to the reader. Three themes in particular stand out: the stunning but cruel character of nature; the thrill of adventure; and, the meaning of friendship. Birney’s vivid description of nature’s beauty and cruelty are ever-present throughout the poem. His use of figurative language is excellent, emphasizing the beautiful scenery of the mountains in Jasper, Banff. When the young hikers are trekking through nature, Birney describes “the ice in the morning thaw” as “a gurgling …show more content…
He loses his own foothold and falls fifty feet. Bob then climbs down the cliff at great risk, (“somehow I worked down the fifty impossible feet to the ledge”) to try and save David. This shows how strong the bond between them really is, that they are both willing to die to save each other. Birney also illustrates the strength of their friendship with a more subtle example. When David is on the ledge, near death, he lies to Bob. He knows Bob feels an extreme amount of guilt and responsibility for him falling. So, he says to Bob: “no, Bobbie! Don’t ever blame yourself. I didn’t test my foothold.” Although this may seem like the truth, Bob knows “he had tested his holds. It was I who had not.” Some of David’s last words were comforting his friend who was the one to blame, showing their unwavering friendship. Ultimately, David asks Bob to do one last thing for him. Weak and in pain, knowing he will never climb or adventure again, he whispers to Bob: “I want to go over!”. His dying wish is that his close friend, Bob, ends his misery. Words cannot describe the difficulty of this task. Yet, Bob ignores all his emotions and personal desires to honor David’s last wish, and pushes him over the