A long dark road,haunting voices,loneliness, these are just a few of the things that come to mind while reading Mary Oliver’s “The Journey,” Oliver’s use of sorrowful terms creates a massive and well developed mood for the reader  . Through the use of syntax such as , tremble and melancholy, the author creates an atmosphere of sadness. The actual content of the poem helps to complete the dark yet deep tone of the poem. This tone is created through the use of quotes such as “ though  the voices around you kept shouting”and  imagery such as “you felt the old tug at your ankles,” Oliver stirs up the reader's feelings, and captivates them to keep reading. By constantly referring to mysterious “voices” the author, uses syntax and somber language to portray many messages about the advices of others.

The meaning of the poem is the only one in life who can help them through trials and issues in life is themselves. This is represented by the “voices” referenced in the poem. However, the voices take on different meanings throughout the poem. In the beginning of the passage they are first referenced in the line “though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice though the whole house began to tremble”(Oliver lines 3-7) in this instance the voices are an outside force offering bad advice to the narrator as their home is shaking and crumbling. This could be a symbolic metaphor for the confidence of the narrator, symbolized by the house, being shaken by the advice and criticisms of the outside world, which are symbolized by the voices.   

However, in the next lines the voices take on a newly developed form. “You felt the old tug at your ankles “mend my life!” each voice cried.”(Oliver Line 8-9) Here, the voices are desperately crying for help and grabbing at the narrator. In this instance, the voices are a symbol for other people calling for help,in their own lives. The lines following discuss how the narrator refuses to help the others even though their situations are horrible, this is perfectly illustrated by the use of the word melancholy,meaning sad or somber, by the author. The passage goes on to illustrate the meaning of the work in a very subtle way. “It was already late enough,and a wild night,and the road full of fallen branches and stones.” In these lines the author is describing life as a pathway. By saying it is late and is a wild night the Narrator begins to illustrate challenges and obstacles in life such as  mortality and the unplanned mistakes in life. This illusion continues and is greatly reinforced by the symbolization of the branches and stones. The branches and stones represent the struggles of life that must be overcome. In these few lines the narrator is able to show that life is difficult enough to go through alone. As the narrator moves farther down the path, the voices begin to fade. Next it says “ the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds.”(Oliver Line 25-26) The stars in this instance, is a representation of clarity , or peace in life. While, the clouds are things that block the view of the sky, or stand in the way of that clarity. As the passage continues, the narrator is left with a final voice. In this final instance, this voice is the narrator's own voice. It goes on to say “as you strode deeper and deeper into the world, determined to do the only thing you could do  determined to save the only life you could save.”(Oliver Line 33-35)Here it is revealed that the only voice that can truly help the narrator is their own voice. The narrator discovers that the only person who can truly impact their life is the narrator themself.

Also, Mary Oliver communicates her entire life through this poem. Being a homosexual in the 1980’s must have been difficult for her. Looking back through the poem the voices can be compared to real world scenarios. In the first instance the voices could be interpreted as people trying to convince Oliver that it’s not acceptable to be homosexual.These may have been the criticisms referred to earlier in the passage, this could also be what shakes her self confidence, and sets up the rest of the poem. 

By using the word voices, Mary Oliver made sure this poem could be interpreted in many different ways, with her precise word choice and detailed descriptions. In the poem you see how Oliver also refers to the struggles of others and the human problem of mortality, the realiy of death. The author says “their melancholy was terrible”  in reference to the challenges life has thrown at the other voices. Also, while saying “ It was already late enough” Oliver references the challenge of mortality. 

In conclusion, we see the necessity of word choice as it is being used in this passage. Without Oliver’s use of phrases like “the wind pried with its stiff fingers,” the reader would never get the true essence and message of the poem, which is to be oneself and not listen to the criticisms of others.. Mary Oliver's choice of words sets the whole tone of the poem. Without the symbolism of the voices the entire passage would fall apart. 
