In Mary’s Oliver’s poem, “The Journey,” she takes us along side her on her journey of self-discovery through her life. Throughout her voyage she constantly runs into forces trying to hold her back. Ultimately, she chooses to ignore those roadblocks. She listens to her own voice in order to follow the path that fulfills her greatest desires and liberates her from the constraints of society. Oliver uses this poem to highlight the surrounding negativity of society, which she eventually chooses to ignore in order to continue on her journey through life. Oliver is that in order to find her own voice in this world, she must first leave behind the voices of others telling her what to do, and listen only to her own voice. 

At the beginning of this poem, Oliver starts on her journey of life with the pull of societal negativity surrounding her. Similar to Oliver’s experience, we all start out in life innocent and naïve, often listening to the voices around us telling us what to do.  Oliver writes, “One day you finally knew what you had to do and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice” (92). The voices Oliver is referring to symbolize the people and institutions in her life trying to hold her back 

from her full potential. These institutions can include education, religion, and government, all things that have strict guidelines. She decides she needs to start on this journey down the path of life, but then immediately feels encapsulated by the things in her life that are trying to restrict her. The voices’ tempting pull entices Oliver, similar to how we are tempted to do things we know are wrong or against our character. She recognizes and acknowledges the voices that are attempting to hold her back, yet she perseveres on, pushing past the temptation in order to continue on her journey. 

As the poem continues, Oliver voyages on and in an attempt to persevere, she ignores the voices shouting at her. Like Oliver, we all go through experiences that test our character, but it is in the times where we stay true to ourselves that our genuine character shines. Oliver’s character is tested along her journey, but instead of giving up and giving in to the voices trying to hold her back, she finds confidence in herself to push on. Oliver’s determination is shown when she writes, “‘Mend my life!’ each voice cried. But you didn’t stop. You knew what you had to do” (92). The voices selfishly ask Oliver for help, but she realizes that in order to stay on her path, she must tune them out, as they will only keep her where she is. Oliver’s determination allows her to surpass the negatives of society, including those trying to hold her back, and continue on her journey. 

As Oliver frees herself of the voices holding her back, she comes to the realization that in order to walk down her ideal path, she must listen only to her own voice. Oliver writes, “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). Only we are able to know where we want to go on our journey. By realizing this, we will be able to let go of all other voices trying to hold us back and focus only on our own, just like Oliver does. By liberating herself of other’s voices, Oliver was able to hear her own voice and recognize that in order to walk on the path that she intends for herself, she has to be the one to direct it.

Through examining Oliver’s journey through this poem, a symbol for her life, we are able to see her transition from a young, naïve child just starting her journey through life, to a mature young woman who is aware and confident. Her transition is evident in the way she responds to the voices that continuously try to restrict her. At the start of her journey, she is hesitant on her path because of all of the voices trying to hold her back. She feels the pull of the negativity around her, yet she doesn’t let them stop her. She acknowledges that she hears them and that they made her hesitate, but she does not give in. Eventually, after she decides to ignore the voices and what everyone is trying to tell her to do, she hears her own voice shine through and recognizes it as the guide to her journey. Through listening to her own voice, she is able to continue down the path that she sets out for herself; the path that she chooses to be on. On her journey of life, Mary Oliver realizes that in order to live the life she intends for herself, she must listen only to what her own voice is telling her. 
