
The repetition of the word “voice” and “voices” in Mary Oliver’s Poem the Journey symbolizes the different and constant subconscious thoughts that are influenced by your surroundings; when in a negative environment, the voices inside your head are dismal, however once withdrawn from those surrounding, there becomes new positive voices that are discovered as your own. Oliver challenges us to discover the different connotations of voices.

This poem begins with, “One day you finally knew / what you had to do, and began (Oliver 92)”. Through maturity and as you get older you realize that most likely your destiny and passion is located elsewhere. There becomes a vision of a journey away from home in hope that, you will find where you truly belong. Mary Oliver first introduces her idea of the word “voices” in the third line, “though the voices around you / kept shouting / their bad advice (92).” Although the reader doesn’t know the full significance of the word voices for the overall poem, they can instantly relate to their own voices they hear when going through a difficult time. Her use of the words “bad advice” distinguish the voices as negative in this context. There will always be temptations and opportunities to continue living a mundane life and abandon achieving the highest potential, you know you’re capable of. Each individual has experienced a time when they had to choose between the right thing and wrong thing to do, along with the pressure to be like everyone else. In this use of the word “voices”, Oliver helps the reader understand that even though these voices are negative, the speaker knows in the back of their mind this specific voice is giving the wrong advice. She does this without introducing the idea of the speakers own voice being the one to guide them. This is a small glimpse for the reader to realize the speaker knows the right from the wrong, but maybe not which to choose. 

The second mention of the word “voice” is in the 11th line, “Mend my life! / each voice cried / but you didn’t stop / you knew what you had to do (92).” This is another example of the speaker working to achieve their goal despite the angry, negative ideas that are present. This time, the voice is much louder and vocal to both the speaker and the reader. Oliver does this to display the strength of the speakers underlying conscious, negligent of the pessimistic opinions. These voices are selfish because they want the speaker to consume their time helping them instead of doing what is best for oneself. The reader can relate to the pull of a negative path, and the struggle of keeping to your own destiny, continuing on your journey. It is clear to the reader that the speaker is strong as they go through a difficult time as these relentless voices seem as though they will never go away. Oliver makes the negative connotation of the word “voice” clear, in order to exemplify her message that the authentic voices come from a deeper force that keeps us on the right path and ultimately leads to our success. 

The third theme of “voices” is extremely important as it represents a shift in the poem. In lines 23- 24, “But little by little, / as you left their voices behind (92),” the poems tone transforms from negative to positive. Mary Oliver strategically places the shift in the middle of the poem, to illuminate a realization of the reader. The poem is split in half to display the contrast between the gloomy voices the speaker knows we shouldn’t listen to, and the understanding that it is our own voice that is to be followed. This first positive use of the word “voices” gives the poem a lighter tone to represent the idea of the reader ignoring the negative voices. In this revealing moment, Oliver has reached her audience by targeting the times when the audience has felt conflicted by their journey. Each person has or will experience a time where they must choose the path of their life, who to listen to, and whether to continue to follow the positive voices. Her use of pathos of overcoming a difficult time, has reached the audience on an emotional level which makes them feel connected to the poem, and the speaker. 

Mary Oliver repeats the word “voice” for the last time in line 27, “through the sheet of clouds, / and there was a new voice / which you slowly / recognized as your own” (92). Although this is the last repetition of the word “voice”, this is the first time Oliver clearly states it is the voice of the reader itself. Unfamiliar to the idea that the driving force of the reader was your own mind, unfolding the poem, much like the path of life unfolds as a journey. Placing this revelation towards the end of the poem brings to light her message of dedication to oneself. The reader can relate to the speaker in that a journey can be a strenuous path of decisions and constant distractions. Allowing yourself to veer off track or follow the wrong path can be tempting, which is why you must stay true to the positive voices in your head to guide you. Oliver’s message by the end of the poem is that the final voice, your gut feeling, is the one that will always lead you to success. 

The poem is set up to reveal a journey. A journey happens step by step, in a structure which corresponds to Oliver’s order of the poem, relative to when she introduces “voice”. Her strategic placement of the word in the first half and second half of the poem gives the reader a visual idea of a journey from beginning to end. She has written the poem in a vague manner that is left open to interpretation for the reader. It is important she did this because this makes the poem extremely relatable to all audiences, as they read through a journey that mimics their own. If she were to describe an obstacle in more specific terms, readers might be unable to compare their lives to the poem. She emphasizes the importance of how you must acknowledge different voices and what you choose to listen to; how listening to negative, conflicting voices will only hold you back, however once you start listening to your own, you begin to prosper down your path, towards destiny. Each example of the word “voice” marks a crucial moment we might face in life, whether it’s the voices blurring your vision of the road ahead or the voices that give us light towards success and lead us to find ourselves one step closer to our final destination.