Mary Oliver, like so many others, is no stranger to struggle. Oliver attended two universities but failed to earn a degree from either, and once she became a published author her first publications did not gain much recognition. Despite the seeming many setbacks Oliver persevered and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her work “The Journey” in 1986 (Mary Oliver 91). Mary Oliver in her poem “The Journey”, conveys through the use of several literary devices, such as imagery, metaphor, diction, and form, a message of the necessity of fighting past the obstacles one faces in life with perseverance and strength to achieve his or her ultimate goal.

At first glance “The Journey” does not look like a typical poem. It does not have stanzas and the lines seem to be just a few long sentences (Oliver 92). The form of the poem is not normal for that of its genre, but this use of a literary device demonstrates a deeper meaning within the poem; that everyone’s path is not always same and not every obstacle is either, but the end result will be – the achievement of a goal and salvation (Discussion Questions 93). “The Journey” may not have the same characteristics as other poems, but it is still a poem and it still achieves the goal of conveying meaning to an audience – it just took a different path of doing so. The poem also addresses the reader directly with the use of second person. This choice of diction allows the reader to step into the shoes of the subject of the poem. Since the message of the poem is so universal, the reader can picture his or her own path of struggle while reading Oliver’s fictional one. The lines of the poem itself go further in describing just how the reader must fight past the obstacles in his or her way and achieve a goal using literary devices.

The poem begins with the subject realizing his or her goal and starting the journey to reaching it. The minute the subject begins his or her path to the goal, there are obstacles (in this case people) trying to stand in the way. The voices are yelling unhelpful suggestions at the subject trying to trip him or her up. Oliver uses a metaphor and imagery to convey this point, “… and you felt the old tug at your ankles. “Mend my life!” each voice cried.” (Oliver 92). This line describes a person trying to pull the subject and make him or her fall, fall into a trap of putting others in front of him or herself. This metaphor is a struggle many people face when trying to do something for themselves and their own passions, they can have someone whether that be a family member, partner, or friend who want to be put first. An example of this could be a young adult who is passionate in pursuing a career in art, but his or her father or mother refuses to allow him or him to study art in college because it does not have many high paying jobs available. In this scenario the young adult is the subject of the poem, and the parents are the voices trying to trip him or her up and follow the way of life they believe is best (Discussion Questions 93). This is a toxic cycle which can lead many people off of their own path of self, but the quest of the subject is only just beginning in the poem as he or she perseveres.

In the next several lines of the poem Oliver describes another obstacle which the subject encounters while on the journey to finding self. She first begins with personification, “… though the wind pried with its fingers at the very foundations, though their melancholy was terrible.” This line evokes a strong image and feeling the reader can picture. An image of the subject stumbling along a path on a dark, stormy night struggling to continue on because of the fingers of the wind pulling on the subject attempting to tear him or her down blooms in the mind of the reader. The diction within the line also paints this picture of struggle. The choice of the word “melancholy” shows the reader that the subject is in a dark place both physically and mentally. The path and journey toward one’s goal is not easy, and even though the subject continues on there is a sadness and questioning within him or her of whether or not he or she will accomplish his or her goal. This idea is further discussed as Oliver describes the night and path of the journey. She illustrates a path filled with obstacles like rocks and branches, which the subject can easily trip and stumble on. This imagery elicits feelings of unsteady and potentially dangerous situations ahead. This section of lines is the low point within poem where the subject is dejected and questioning his or her journey and goal, however in the next few lines the subject reaches a resolution.

The final lines leave the reader with an optimistic ending. Oliver begins the section with positive, beaming imagery for the first time in the poem, “But little by little as you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds…” (Oliver 92). This description of the sky is a stark contrast when compared to the dark, gloomy depiction from the previous lines. The lines suggest an almost holy image of rays of light bursting through the clouds to guide someone home. This picture evokes a feeling of salvation and hope, that the subject will make it through the heartache and treacherous times. The lines further discuss the way the subject slowly realized that all throughout his or her dangerous journey there was safety surrounding him or her in the form of his or herself. He or she had been there all along, and once the shouting of the destructive voices became quieter, he or she heard his or her own voice – the guiding light the whole time. This new reassurance inspired the last lines which detail the new found determination within the subject as he or she realizes that salvation is coming to him or her. 

In its conclusion “The Journey” leaves the reader filled with self-confidence and reassurance that things will get better. There will be many obstacles, gloomy nights, people trying to pull him or her down, but in the end if he or she perseveres it will be worth it to find happiness. Mary Oliver created a fictional path to describe a journey that millions of people face whether it be a young adult trying to find his or her way in college, an adult finding his or her passion, or a person leaving a relationship which smothered him or her from true potential. This poem uses metaphors, imagery, diction, and form all to create a world that many people know so well. Mary Oliver’s own experiences may have inspired the poem, but it became universal with her description of common feelings and the use of second person (Mary Oliver 91). The message in this poem is an all-embracing one, fight through the dark and difficult times because in the end the reward will be hope and salvation.
