comparing and contrasting Frost and Cather’s perspective on human mortality

comparing and contrasting Frost and Cather’s perspective on human mortality

In many instances, people are filled with dilemmas. They are unable to decide what to do. Life is a mystery with many hurdles. At times, good and bad things happen to individuals. Some people tend to remain melancholic while others work their way out. Such an attitude is very crucial. However, one gets to have many questions about what shall happen after their demise. As Frost indicates in his poems, death is an event that brings human existence into an end. A dead person has no use to the living. However, Cather asserts that the dead are never forgotten from the living. This is because the memories we create in our lives remain impacted by the living. She holds that people should embrace the instinct of affection in making friendship. Despite their diverging views, both poets bring out the point that people have choices to make in their lifetime because death is a mystery no one can fathom. This paper focuses on comparing and contrasting Frost and Cather’s perspective on human mortality.

The human life does not require any interpretation at the end. This was the perspective raised by Frost in his poem “The Death of the Hired Man.” The word is craftily used to describe an event. It is an event that marks the end of human existence. (Hopkins 175-186). The human existence is defined by their contributions to the life of others and their life too. A person is deemed good if he/she helps others. The goodness of such a person is a trait that can be used to describe him/her. For instance, a person can say that you are a good man/woman. This means that such a person has identified a likable character in you. That individual shall have your definition based on the trait he marks. However, whenever a person dies, it is useless to try and define them. It will make no difference or contribution, trying to interpret the deeds of a person after death. Death is an event, which marks the end to the existence of a person.

On the other hand, Cather holds that human existence does not end after death. According to Cather, human existence is kept alive by the love people have for each other. In her letters, she displayed great love, especially in the letters she wrote to Louise when they were students at the University of Nebraska. (Cather, np). She craves to meet her friend so that together they will have some time to laugh. However, she acknowledges that it shall never happen. She feels bitter that feminine friendship should be unnatural. One gets to have the feeling that Cather is against feminine friendship.

However, she is only expressing concerns. Many people in her time had the same opinion regarding feminine friendship. They felt that those types if friendship were not based on instincts of love. Therefore, she asserts that individuals, regardless of gender or sex, should keep their friendship as natural as possible. She urges people to desist from the notion that friendship, especially feminine, is unnatural. Her assertion is a reminder that people should enjoy friendship while they are still alive. This is because, after death, the only thing a person is left with is memories. Although the person does not exist anymore physically after death, the memories we have of them keeps their existence going.

The poem, “The Onset” presents a conflict between life and death. In this poem, Frost describes the uncertainties of life and, at the same time, expressing hope and the realities of life. (Khan 180-197). Human life is often full of many miseries and adversities. Individuals face each challenge hoping they will end. It is always good to have such kind of attitude. This is because; life cannot be exactly what we expect. However, what would be the essence of all those struggles, and end up dead eventually? One can opt to remain dormant in the state of challenges and decide to do nothing because they will die, eventually putting an end to the miseries. However, as Frost holds, one can decide to fulfill the promises of life or decide to remain melancholic. This means that people do have choices to decide what they want. They have the power to change their existence. However, in the face of death, all people are faced with are uncertainties. No one knows what happens to a person after death.

Cather had ordered that none of her letters were to be published. She hinted, hating to read or involve herself with other people’s work. However, her letters were published and have been spread worldwide for literature purposes. Cather did not want to involve herself with other people’s business. She did not want anyone meandering in hers either. However, what did people do after her death? Her letters were published despite barring them from being published. This shows that once a person has died, he/she has control over nothing. In a sense, this concurs with the perception of Frost of death. That death is an event that brings an end to human existence. Despite the loved ones of Cather having her memories, her physicality is absent. Her memories are still alive through the love she spread. However, the control she had when alive cannot be felt. This is a sense that brings the two poets on a common ground; that despite all the positivity we employ in our lives, we have no control of the future. Human existence is brought to an end by death, and uncertainties follow.

Overly, human existence is essential while people are alive. After death, only uncertainties follow. According to Frost, death is an event that brings an end to human existence. Therefore, he employs individuals to make use of every moment they have. This because death is a mystery that is full of uncertainties and puzzles, no one can crack.

On the other hand, Cather asserts that death does not end a person’s existence. This is because the deeds, and love from those alive, keeps the memories of departed one alive. Therefore, she urges people to form a friendship based on instincts of affection. Despite their diverging opinion on human mortality, the two poets seem to have a common ground.  Frost holds that life is full of miseries and adversaries. People need to decide whether to face those challenges boldly or remain melancholic. Cather converses that our existence should be based on instincts of love and that our deeds should bring hope to others. Conclusively, the two poets hold that individuals are presented with the choice to make in their lives and that death should never worry anyone since it is a mystery that no one fathoms