"Mending Wall" is a poem written by Robert Frost that explores the concept of boundaries, both physical and metaphorical. The poem raises several questions about the nature of these boundaries and the motivations behind their construction.
One of the most prominent questions raised by the poem is why the narrator feels the need to mend the wall that separates his property from his neighbor's. The poem suggests that the wall is a symbolic representation of the distance between the two men, and that the narrator sees the act of mending the wall as a way of maintaining this distance. However, it is not clear why the narrator feels this way, and the reader is left to wonder whether it is simply a matter of tradition or whether there is some deeper reason for the wall's existence.
Another question raised by the poem is whether the wall is actually necessary or if it serves any real purpose. The narrator notes that the wall serves no practical function, as it does not keep out animals or protect against any real threats. Instead, it seems to be a purely symbolic barrier, one that is maintained for no apparent reason. This raises the question of whether the wall is simply a relic of the past or if it serves some deeper purpose for the narrator and his neighbor.
A third question that the poem raises is whether the narrator's relationship with his neighbor is one of cooperation or competition. The poem suggests that there is some tension between the two men, as the narrator seems to resent the fact that his neighbor "moves in darkness as it seems to me" and "does not speak." However, it is not clear whether this tension is simply a result of the distance created by the wall or if there is some other underlying conflict between the two men.
Overall, "Mending Wall" is a thought-provoking poem that invites the reader to consider the nature of boundaries and the motivations behind their construction. It raises questions about the purpose of these barriers and the relationships they create or obscure, leaving the reader to ponder the deeper meanings behind the narrator's actions.