
Mary Oliver, poet of The Journey (1986), tells the story of a transformation of one’s self by expressing his or hers’ individual beliefs. Through the use of repetition, alliteration, personification, and tone Oliver is able to present her argument to the readers—ignoring the persistent, and demanding voices of those around and take a hold of what an individual wants to do. Oliver conveys the ideology that the journey of taking a hold of one’s life and finding his or her own voice can and will be filled with obstacles, but with determination one can take a hold of his or her life and the ideal life can be made a reality.

Repetition is a key component to many authors and poets a like. The use of repetition stresses the ideas the author is trying to present within his or her work. Oliver uses the word ‘you’ to express to readers that she is specifically speaking to them. She is trying to create a personal connection with her readers to her work, “One day you finally knew what you had to do…” (1-2) and “But you didn’t stop. You know what you had to do…” (12-13). The transformation of “you” begins on lines 24, “…you left their voices behind…” A transformation of the individual is beginning to take place—he/she is beginning to take a hold of his/her life and veering away from the typical idea that was set in place.

Alliteration is the repetition of the same letter or sound at the beginning of words. Oliver shows use of alliteration, “…though the wind pried with its stiff fingers at the very foundations…” (14-16) which shows repetition of “th”. Similar to other uses of repetition alliteration is used to attract the reader’s attention to a given idea trying to be stated. Oliver brings attention to these particular lines to show a representation how the ideas of one person can easily “play” or change the perception of an individual. If one is not careful then those surrounding him/her can hold back the individual, but it is not only those surrounding a given individual rather society as a whole. The impact advertisement, TV, and people can have can either harm or aid someone in discovering who he/she is.

“…the wind pried with its stiff fingers…” (14-15) life is given to the wind to personify what Oliver is trying to relay to the audience. Through the use of personification readers are able to create an understanding of what an author is trying to convey; in this sense the wind represents something, rather someone, that brings sadness about in one’s life. Oliver convinces readers to push pass depression/sorrow/unhappiness that someone might face in life. These particular lines show a darker more serious tone to the work of Oliver in her poem The Journey.

A strong tone represents an assertion the author has in his or her given work. Oliver shows strong representation of tone throughout; “‘Mend my life!’” (10) the use of an exclamation mark is one way she represents her determination and argument through tone. From the beginning she sets a determined, strong, and understanding tone, from beginning to end Oliver’s message is heard loud and clear, “One day you finally knew…the only life you could save” (1-36).

Oliver shows a strong meaning and understanding to how other people and things influence the way a given person represents him or herself. She shows her personal point of view throughout the use of words in The Journey, “…you finally knew…you knew what you had to do…left their voices behind…there was a new voice…recognized as your own…save the only life you could save…” (1, 13, 24,27-29, 36). Oliver shows the readers that to live a life of individuality and personal identity one must be able to show determination and move past all of the distractions that life can throw at him or her.   

Poems are, “meant to be read and heard,” according to a statement Oliver made during an interview. Poems allow for a more personal story to be told through stanzas and lines. The Journey, in particular, expresses a transformation that many people struggle with—personal/self-identification. In this sense one is willing to go against the prevailing current, the “standards” that are set of an individual; following a new, unknown current. Other voices, “…shouting their bad advice…each voice cried. But you didn’t stop…you left their voices behind…” (4-5, 11-12, 24), feels the ripples of you conforming to your own [unknown, unfamiliar] ideas.

People will try to “whisper” into the ears of those around them in hopes that he or she will take the chance of following behind him or her. Television, advertisements, billboards, products, etcetera influences the way people perceive various ideologies. Advertisers know how to work the emotions of consumers, and uses those advantages to try and persuade people to lean towards a specific way and veer away from the other path.  Oliver shows with resilience and determination one is able to accomplish the idea of individualism. To have determination one must have the strength and will power to want to do better, to save one’s life.  

Rejecting the life that is expected of someone and living the life he or she is determined to live presents challenges throughout. Having parents expect their child to be a straight A student? Or being the “perfect” child? Those are high expectations to place on anyone. Oliver’s poem challenges the “traditional” ideas of life and in doing so tells her readers to reject a life that revolves around the choices and responsibility of others, but rather enter into the “…wild night…” (20) and in doing so find a voice, “…your own…” (29). Conformity of society and others challenges individualism, which is what many are trained to do, and breaking free can bring about a journey with difficult, and sometimes miserable situations. 

Discovering who one is presents a challenge all by itself. In Mary Oliver’s The Journey this is prevalent from start to finish. She presents the argument that there sometimes might be things holding someone back, but through will power and determination one is able to create a path of his or her own. Oliver presents a powerful argument as this throughout her piece and proves in the end that, “…determined to save the only life you could save…” (35-36). To be willing to make a change one must be willing to strive for the intended results.
