




Mary Oliver’s poem “The Journey,” revolves around the main idea that life is a journey everyone faces. At the beginning of the poem, Oliver introduces us to a sudden realization that we can excel through life if we listen to our own self-conscious. The ultimate goal of this poem is to show us that there are certain obstacles that we have to cross in order to find out who we truly are. She explains to us that life can be hard, but we must be able to move past it. Mary Oliver wants us to become the person we truly want to be rather than have society shape us into a person we are not.   

The beginning of the poem tells us to listen to our own self, which will help us get through life.  “One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began” indicates that we knew what we had to do already (Oliver 92). Meaning that we should listen to our own self as we begin the journey of life. The “journey” in the poem is what a person goes through in life to become who they truly are. In the poem, Mary Oliver says “and there was a new voice, which you slowly recognized as your own, that kept you company as you strode deeper and deeper into the world” (92). The first part of this quote “and there was a new voice, which you slowly recognized as your own” is the point where we find out who we truly are.  The second part of the quote “that kept you company as you strode deeper and deeper into the world,” says that once we find our voice there is nothing that can stop us as we make our way deeper into world overcoming the struggle.

As we live in a world with social norms, being considered “normal” means that we need to conform to society. Conformity can be seen at multiple instances throughout the poem and is known to be the “social influence.” These certain types of social influences can cause us to change into a person we aren’t in order to fit in with others around us. Mary Oliver uses the word “voices” to create a meaning with influences. In order to find our own “voice”, Mary Oliver challenges us to listen to our inner voice we have in our head to lead us down the right path. For instance in line 3, “though the voices around you kept shouting,” represents the voices in society (92). These voices in society can shape us into someone we are not. Mary Oliver wants us to know that these voices are the distractions that can discourage us and we should only listen to our conscience. The voices of society do nothing but scream bad advice to others. They influence and pressure us to do things we do not want to partake in, yet we still intend to do them. Mary Oliver leaves us with a task to find our own voice in the world instead of having the world shape us into someone else. With any society, there are always people that come ask for help. In line 10, Oliver says:  “Mend my life! each voice cried,” meaning that there are always people in need of care (92). Mary Oliver wants us to know that people seeking help is also another type of distraction we face in our journey of life. For example, the people crying out for help can also take us away from listening to our own conscience. Yet apart from society, there can always be instances where we take another’s help. For example help from our parents, mentors, and people who want us to be successful in life. As Mary Oliver wants us to find our own path and way, we should also take advice from others. Advice that can help us become a better person rather than being pressured into doing something we know is wrong. Oliver wants us to know that there can be distractions and influences that can shape us into someone we are not. 

The climax of this poem is when Mary Oliver says “But little by little, as you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds, and there was a new voice” (92). This line suggests that there are obstacles we must overcome as we find our own voice. As Oliver says, “But little by little” she suggests that it takes time to overcome the obstacles (92). She wants us to know that we cannot really face our obstacles in a matter of one day. It would take one step at a time but eventually we do defeat them in the end. After that she says, “as you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds,” which means that there is a moment of light taking place (92). This is what symbolizes the change or transformation as we break away from others in society in order to become our self as a new voice. The stars burning also represent the idea of destiny and fate. Oliver wants us to realize that no matter what decision we make in our life, our fate is only determined by ourselves. Only we can decide what to do with our lives. Mary Oliver concludes the poem with the remark that in life we will encounter many hardships but we must able to move on and continue our personal journey.

From different types of distractions and social norms, Mary Oliver wants us to be true to ourselves as we go through the path of life. Throughout the poem, Oliver establishes the point that we should drift away from all social norms and become the individual we want to be. She wants us to realize that we cannot face our problems in a matter of one day. It might take months, it might take years, but at one step at a time we will eventually conquer them. The ultimatum of this poem is to show that no matter what we go through, we eventually do get through the journey.

