The contemporary society is quite different from the old one especially in its ideals. This current society is guided by such ideals as the need for people to guard themselves from many to ills. The guarding is on both literal and metaphoric levels. For instance, literal guarding could include putting up fences just as indicated in the poem by Frost. On the other hand, the metaphoric guarding that the society engages in includes choosing one’s friend’s carefully as it makes one not to get into trouble. This paper attempts to answer the question whether walls limit more than they protect. In particular, it will provide a Rogerian argument where both sides of the argument will be presented.
Safety and privacy are the driving forces of a society in correlation with the likelihood of living a life that is devoid of drama. There is need to be safe and secure and to feel that one is protected from dangerous situations. One of the ways that could ensure that someone is content that they are protected includes putting up fences. The fences could play a vital role in the protection of very many possessions that one could have. In addition, the safety and security will be maintained by the presences of strong fences. In addition, the people who build fences around their lives also avoid negative influences from others. When people are reserved and they avoid others, they also avoid the problems that could be brought by external influences. Their lives remain calm as there is no one to disrupt them all the time. Even if someone made an attempt to gain access, this would impossible because of the already existing fences (Little & Bloom 2010).
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On other hand, fences do not necessary indicate or proof that a fenced place is secure. It could be limiting in the sense that it hinders people from interaction. For example, just like in the poem could prevent the interaction of the two neighbors. The two neighbors seem to lack cows or other animals that could move from two homesteads. This suggests that the two neighbors could live without a fence. Before the fence broke down, the two neighbors live on independently and there is minimal interaction. Indeed, such an arrangement is not beneficial to the neighbors as their social interaction is interfered with. Indeed, sometimes it is unnecessary to put up wall fence as they are indication that one does not trust the people who live next to them. It is also a suggestion that the people living next to the person who puts up these fences are insecure. Such feelings of insecurity additionally lead to mistrust and further cases of suspicions (Fagan, 2007).
The second type of fences that Frost highlights in the poem is the symbolic type of fences created by people. These could not only be introverts but also people whose personal spaces are important to them. These kinds of fences should not exist as people who avoid the company of others do not learn at all. This is attributable to the benefits of socialization such as solving problems by sharing with others. Most of the time the people who build such fences could be doing it unintentionally but sometimes they know what they are doing. Such people who build fences around themselves or avoid people believe that they are protecting them. Often, this is not true as the protection becomes a great hindrance to other important parts of their lives. Someone could be aware of a working solution that could resolve an issue but does not have the access to the person’s lives (Barnet, & Bedau 2014).
Readers should agree that the issue of putting up fences has both demerits and demerits when explored in totality. It is better not to put up walls of any kind in order to socialize and learn from one another. It could also give someone a chance to help the people they interact with. When someone’s life is free from fences, they are able to live freely and in turn explore limits that they previously had. For example, when someone embraces a free spirit they can make decisions without the fear of being judged. This is evidence that such decisions could even be life changing to the people who take them. Consequently, the people who choose to live with fences or those who build walls could be disadvantaged in numerous ways. These disadvantages could even include instances where they are harshly judged as the other people whose lives are not fenced will not understand them (Little & Bloom 2010).
Although some may say that it is advisable to build and maintain walls, it better for them not to do so. They need to learn to live with other people and open their lives to other people. They should be able to destroy the fences that they have already built. Open lives will allow them to be better people since the once built fences will be destroyed. In addition, fences have a way of repelling people and creating fears that could not be necessary. The creation of such fears could affect both the builders of the fence and the people who are prevented access. The people who cannot have access fail to help the builder of the fence since they do not understand whatever is going on in their lives.
References
Barnet, S., & Bedau, H. A. (2014). Current issues and enduring questions: A guide to critical thinking and argument, with readings . Boston: Bedford/St. Martins.
Fagan, D. J. (2007). Critical companion to Robert Frost: A literary reference to his life and work . New York: Facts On File.
GALE, C. E. N. G. A. G. E. L. E. A. R. N. I. N. G. (n.d.). STUDY GUIDE FOR ROBERT FROST'S "MENDING WALL." . DETROIT: GALE, CENGAGE LEARNING.
Little, M. R., & Bloom, H. (2010). Bloom's how to write about Robert Frost . New York: Bloom's Literary Criticism.
