Individualism And Nonconformity In Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken

“The Road Not Taken,” is undoubtedly the most misinterpreted poem by Robert Frost. Some scholars believe the poem is about humans taking the high road--about individualism and nonconformity. However, to understand the underlying meaning the poem conveys, the poem 's diction and tone must be read closely. As a first read through, the poem may boil down to a simple message, but avid Frost readers know that there is more than what meets the eye. Contrary to popular belief, the “The Road Not Taken,” is not about choosing the best path, but instead about the regret and the indecisiveness, which are synonymous with human nature. The tone and diction employed by Frost, strongly suggest that “The Road Not Taken” is not about individualism and nonconformity, but instead a carefully crafted poem about the human desire to avoid regret and find significance.
Many readers take the poem as underscoring Americans’ “belief in human perfectibility, a concept that assumes the humans in question can make choices that will lead to improvement.” ("THE ROAD NOT TAKEN Finding America In The Poem Everyone Loves And Almost Everyone Gets Wrong."). Yet, the poem’s layout---construction--is focused on the process of

Patriotic and individualist Americans boast about the poems call for nonconformity and individualism; values that are deeply American. However, a close reading of the poem, focusing on tone and diction, reveal a different message. Frost crafted this poem to mirror the indecisiveness and regret humans face when making decisions, even if the choices are of equal worth. Humans have such little time on this earth, yet they consistently choose to spend their time agonizing on what could have been, and less time living in the present. To an extant Frost warns the reader that they should not waste too much time contemplating decisions, because they could their whole lives regretting and less time