In Mary Oliver’s “The Journey,” the term “voice” is used multiple times and is a key component in supporting the overall message of the struggle in perseverance. Throughout the poem there are several challenges where there are always “voices” present. At first, the voices are negative outside influences, such as society and  others. Then they shift to positive influences from within oneself. Through the use of the word “voice,” Oliver is able to grab the reader’s attention and make them realize their own voice is the most important of them all. 

The beginning of this essay starts with a negative tone. Oliver states that there are voices “shouting their bad advice” (Oliver l. 5). This suggests that these “voices” are holding the reader back from “what you had to do” (Oliver l. 2).  This quote is necessary for the foundation of Oliver’s point in this poem. In today’s society there are many negative influences and voices trying to get people to conform by their ideas which can be seen as a setback in the journey of finding oneself. Through this first reference to voices, the reader’s attention is brought to the main issue proposed in this poem. Even though there are obstacles in the way of one’s journey they need to persevere. 

Later in this poem, Oliver says that again there are voices asking “mend my life!” (Oliver l. 10 ). This shows yet another way that these voices are creating struggles throughout one’s journey. No longer are the voices trying to give the reader their input on his or her life, but now they are trying to drag the subject into their own troubles. Oliver using them wanting help with a negative connotation is strange because usually people wanting to fix their lives is a good thing. However, with this reference being negative it alludes to how when others are in bad places in their life they often ask for help but they really are the ones who have to help themselves.  The use of this reference in a negative way grabs the reader’s attention. 

In the middle section of the poem there is the mention of many struggles in the way of a goal. There is the mention of “stiff fingers” (Oliver l. 15) that pry at the foundations of the goal. These fingers are representative of others and the ways that they try to pry into one’s life and get involved in things that is not their place. The pathway of the journey is also described as “full of fallen branches and stones” (Oliver l. 21-22). All of these struggles are presented to show the reader how difficult the path truly is. Oliver is not wrong with these descriptions. There is not an easy way to reach the goal of fully knowing oneself and there are many struggles which for some people end up being too much to handle.

After this negative beginning to this piece, Oliver shifts the tone from negative. Despite all of the struggles presented throughout the poem this far Oliver shifts the tone to positive by saying that “you left their voices behind” (Oliver l. 24). This shows that even though there are struggles on this journey, whether it be voices or other obstacles, the reader can still leave them. One does not have to listen to society and conform to certain standards and how they say to be. On a journey of finding oneself, one is still able to move past these struggles and persevere through them to find who they truly are and stick to that.

Finally, Oliver uses the term voice again. Saying that there is a “new voice” (Oliver l. 27), which is the voice of the reader. The voice shifts from negative outside influences, that are presenting a challenge, to the reader’s own inner voice. The reader’s own “voices” are strong and empowering. This allows the reader to help gain more insight to the focus of the poem. By Oliver saying that the voice is “your own” (Oliver l. 29) it intrigues the reader and helps them to connect deeper to the poem. This use of the term voice creates a more personal aspect to this poem because then it more easily allows readers to place themselves on this journey. In life, when one is trying to find themselves they must disregard all voices other than their own when making choices. 

In “The Journey” by Mary Oliver there is a heavy focus around the term “voice.” Oliver used this term to help the reader distinguish the difference between outside voices such as society and inner voices that come from within oneself. In today’s world, society can have such negative influences that get in the way of one’s journey of finding themselves. Through Oliver’s use of the term “voice” throughout the poem the Journey, the reader is able to realize they need to disregard the voices in society that are negative and focus on their own inner voice, the most important of all. 