The images in Robert Frost’s “Design” rouse dark as well as light tones. For example, the poem frequents the use of the word “white.” The main participants in the poem, the flower, the spider, and the moth, are all associated with whiteness. Dark images also appear in the poem in the second strophe in the form of the night as well as literal darkness. All the images in the poem can be put in the categories of light and dark, but where to put the images is not always clear. For example, a “witches’ broth” has a strong dark feeling, but the spider is described as a snow drop. Usually, spiders have a grim feeling to them, but Frost uses the spider as an image of lightness.
The poem describes the confusion of what is light or dark, right or wrong, and how point of view can affect one’s perception. All these factors come together to bring up the question of design and if it is light, dark, or neither. The spider, flower, and moth are all described as white, which makes them seem innocent. However, the scene in which the participants find themselves is very grim. The spider is about to devour the moth, which is a horrible thing for the moth. However, the spider is merely trying to survive. The description of a witch’s broth makes it clear that the scene where the characters come together is the darkness, while individually the characters can be light.
The second strophe proposes questions that have to do with design and even a designer. The speaker asks why each participant happened to be at the same place and at the same time. The scene of a spider eating a moth may seem insignificant to a person, but the small event holds true in everyday human life and thought. Many question whether there is a divine plan for all people or if people simply exist around each other. What seems like a simple narration of a spider’s meal actually addresses the concept of destiny, a higher power, and even existentialism.
The poem describes the confusion of what is light or dark, right or wrong, and how point of view can affect one’s perception. All these factors come together to bring up the question of design and if it is light, dark, or neither. The spider, flower, and moth are all described as white, which makes them seem innocent. However, the scene in which the participants find themselves is very grim. The spider is about to devour the moth, which is a horrible thing for the moth. However, the spider is merely trying to survive. The description of a witch’s broth makes it clear that the scene where the characters come together is the darkness, while individually the characters can be light.
The second strophe proposes questions that have to do with design and even a designer. The speaker asks why each participant happened to be at the same place and at the same time. The scene of a spider eating a moth may seem insignificant to a person, but the small event holds true in everyday human life and thought. Many question whether there is a divine plan for all people or if people simply exist around each other. What seems like a simple narration of a spider’s meal actually addresses the concept of destiny, a higher power, and even existentialism.
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