“The Journey” by Mary Oliver is a poem centralized by the theme of self-assurance. Written in the 1980’s, the poem is mainly about breaking free from the chains of other people, figuratively. It dives deep into the meaning of control and life itself. Oliver uses many stylistic devices to enhance the meaning of the work as a whole. Her word choice, repetition, symbolism and form all contribute to the theme of self-enhancement.

Throughout the poem, Oliver uses strong, powerful language to make readers feel self-assured. “Though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice- though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles.” Words that stand out in this passage are “shouting”, “tremble”, and “tug.” Oliver makes the reader of the poem feel anxious or overwhelmed. The “voices” shouting are meant to represent people trying to distract someone from reaching their goals. The “house” trembling and the “tug at your ankles” symbolizes people holding someone back and not letting them reach their fullest potential. These words come at the beginning of the poem: the more negative side of the poem. 

However, other words throughout have a positive connotation and enhance the message the author is trying to portray. “As you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn...there was a new voice which you slowly recognized as your own.” Words like “stars”, “burn”, and “new” represent a person becoming their own. They are finally able to break free of the symbolic chains of things or people that are holding them back. This adds to the message that a person should lead their own life and not listen to what others tell them if it is negatively influencing them or keeping them from reaching their highest standards. 

Another aspect of the poem that relates to the overall theme is the use of repetition. Oliver is constantly using repetition of individual words and phrases to catch the reader’s attention and make them understand the message more clearly. The most noticeable repetition in the poem is the use of the word “you.” Since the poem is written in the second person point of view, it makes sense for Oliver to use the word “you” several times. This does, however, enhance the theme of the text itself. Since Oliver is specifically addressing her audience, it makes the poem more personal. “One day you finally knew what you had to do.” This brings empowerment to the passage because it makes the reader want to act upon the topic instead of just read the poem and continue on with their lives. 

Furthermore, words and phrases of substance are repeated through the poem to add to the meaning. Words like “though” and “determined” are used a couple times and grab the reader’s attention. The word “though” might not seem significant to the theme of the poem. However, it creates a flow from a positive to a negative aspect. For example, “you knew what you had to do, though the wind pried with its stiff fingers.” This quote, among others, is important because it shows the relationship between the thoughts of the audience. In this instance, Oliver is stating that the person knew the right thing to do, even though people or aspects of life were holding her back (i.e. the “wind”). The word “determined” comes at the end of the poem and creates a feeling of self-empowerment and enhancement, which is what the entity of the text is about.

Lastly, the general form of the poem itself enhances the message Oliver is trying to give to the reader. Specific punctuation and shifts grab the reader’s attention and make them understand the deeper meaning of the content. Key words and tone make the reader pull what is in the poem and relate it to their own life. There is one piece of dialogue in the poem: ‘“Mend my life!” each voice cried.’ This dialogue is very important to the entire poem because it stands out. It symbolizes those who try to bring people down by asking them to fix their issues in life, instead of them letting that person focus on their own issues and lead themselves to their own success. This can relate to so many people’s lives because the majority of people have dealt with someone trying to tear them down. Oliver is trying to convey the message that once people are free of others trying to hold them back, they can live their own lives and reach their fullest potential in life. A major shift occurs after line 12 in the poem, when it says “But you didn’t stop. You knew what you had to do.” Structural shifts are important to poems because they create an interesting flow and keep the reader engaged. Another shift is present after line 22. “and the road full of fallen branches and stones. But little by little, as you left their voices behind,”. Both quotes transition from negative to positive. Oliver’s purpose in creating shifts was to enhance the message that people should not let others keep them from being the best versions of themselves they can be.

Although the message of the poem is straightforward, the stylistic choices such as repetition, language, and structure are elaborate and enhance the meaning of the text as a whole. Harsh language helps the author use emotion to draw in the audience and help them connect the words with the message. Repetition makes the reader stop and think about what the poem is trying to tell them. Words and phrases are frequently repeated throughout the poem in order to convey a consistent theme. Even the overall form of the text, with the use of dialogue, shifts, and punctuation, also helps brings out the main points of the poem. The use of symbolism was a large factor in giving the poem meaning. Mary Oliver used all of these elements to convey the message that people should not be brought down by the baggage of others and that they should lead their own lives in order to bring themselves to their individual standards.

 