Mary Oliver’s The Journey, is a poem that focuses on how one transforms throughout their lifetime. Oliver utilizes metaphors in order to support the theme of the poem, the journey one takes in life in order to become an individual. Initially, one has no identity, and is forced to conform to those around them in order to find their place in society. However, as a person matures, one undergoes a transformation and slowly begins to find one’s own direction in life. The transformation from a person who conforms to the norms of society into a self-driven individual who acts upon their own independent thoughts is the essence of the poem. The journey to become an individual may seem impossible to the many who are blinded by the pressures of society, but it is through this journey that true clarity may be obtained, clarity that can only be drawn from within once one discovers their true identity as an individual.

Oliver makes frequent use of metaphors in order to fortify the theme. “though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice” (Oliver), refers to the pressure that society exerts on a person to fall into a norm it sees fit. Public opinion often forces one to alter their behaviors so that they may fit in with others in order to avoid sticking out or attracting unwanted attention. Such pressure causes people to become introverted or suppresses their true self, both of which make society more uniform in terms of what to expect of people. When one embarks on the journey to find oneself, there might be some initial challenges as peers may question a change in behavior or ideals. Ignoring these “bad voices” (Oliver), is the first step in discovering one’s identity.

The next step in finding one’s identity is handling the initial repercussion of trying to be unique. “though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles” (Oliver), symbolizes the persecution one faces in the struggle to find an identity. The trembling house refers to how one’s home, thought to be a place of security and sanctuary, will be under siege by those who do not approve of the new identity one is searching for. Likewise, while one is in public they will feel the “old tug at your ankles” (Oliver), meaning both publically and within the comfort of one’s home, one will find oneself the target of persecution in the face of finding their true identity. It is crucial at this stage that one does not falter in their journey, but rather continues in order to find the identity within oneself. “You knew what you had to do, though the wind pried with its stiff fingers at the very foundations” (Oliver), further nails home the point made of the persecution on faces on the journey. The wind prying with its stiff fingers refers to how public pressures will attempt to destroy the foundation one is creating for oneself, the foundation upon which one may attempt to seek their identity from. The public eye catches those who do not conform to what is perceived to be normal, and the path can become a difficult one to follow. “and the road full of fallen branches and stones” (Oliver), exemplifies how the journey’s road can be a very difficult track to remain on. The road refers to the path one must take in order to find oneself, while the branches and stones refer to the many obstacles one will face in finding their identity. These obstacles come in many forms, ranging from public persecution to the vulnerability of standing out amongst one’s peers. For those who manage to traverse down the difficult path of finding one’s identity, one will quickly discover the bliss of being able to truly say that one has found their identity, a joy that can only be measured by those who have experienced it for themselves.

“as you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds, and there was a new voice, which you slowly recognized as your own” (Oliver), is exclaiming the breakthrough of finding one’s identity. Leaving the voices behind symbolizes breaking away from the mold of society and arriving to a completely new reality. The burning stars are symbolic of one stepping into the light, a place where one can clearly see oneself and determine their identity. The clouds being penetrated by the light are symbolic of the fog cast over individuals by society which skews their ability to own their identity. The new voice that is “slowly recognized as your own” (Oliver), is one’s conscience speaking to oneself. “[the voice] that kept you company as you strode deeper and deeper into the world” (Oliver), discuss what a person does now that one has found their identity. Now armed with an identity and a clear conscience, one may call oneself a complete individual.  The voice keeping one company as they stride deeper and deeper into the world is discussing how a clear conscience is allowing one to take oneself deeper and deeper into their own life with satisfaction. The final lines of the poem, “determined to do the only thing you could do --- determined to save the only life you could save.” (Oliver), entail the theme of the poem. The “only thing you could do” (Oliver), is becoming an individual through discovering one’s own identity. The only life one can save is one’s own life, and now that one is an individual and has found their identity, they have essentially saved oneself from struggling to live out a different existence. 

Oliver uses repeated metaphors in order to convey the idea of how people struggle to find themselves in a society that sets a clear standard. Finding one’s individuality is what gives one true life, and it is only through this struggle that one may attain greater clarity and may lead a richer life.
