Everyone in the world uses word choice, or commonly called diction in the literature community, for their creation of emotion and physical reaction. Some people use this literary device without knowing it; while, others know how to use diction to get an emotion response out of the reader. For example, if someone talks about a scary event that happened, then that person would use words with a scary connotation without knowing her diction is causing the listener to have an emotional relationship with fear. However, someone who knows how to use speech in their best interest, for example, an author, uses word choice to make the listener or reader understand a relationship that the author is trying to make the reader feel. This relationship could either be a physical or emotional connection. Mary Oliver is an author who uses diction in her poem “The Journey” to let the reader have an empowering message through her words. She does this by using pronouns, like “you” or “my,” to engage the reader in past experiences that cause a real healing for the reader. It’s not just personal pronouns. She uses words with a positive connotation as well. Analyzing Mary Oliver’s “The Journey,” uses unique diction, primarily her usage of secondary personal pronouns and overly positive connotational words, we can observe how the author uses those specific words to create a positive emotional connection with the reader; thus, causing their confidence levels to rise.   

In the opening of her poem, she begins her message by describing how the reader struggles with “voices” and how negative people can affect one’s life. However, Oliver depicts how the individual in her literature overcomes these struggles. For example, Oliver’s opening sentences illustrate the speaker, which is the reader themselves due to active pronouns she uses, Oliver says, “One day you finally knew / what you had to do, and began, / though the voices around you” (92.1-3). The reader can personally relate to this poem causing themselves to have an emotional reminder of an event that they went through. Her diction has a theme of self-empowerment. Her words act as a trigger for an individual who understands how to make difficult decisions due to the specific nouns she uses. These statements Oliver makes is what an individual thinks about when they are going through a hard time. Once the hardtime is accomplished then self-empowerment is reached. The reason for her words having a positive connotation is because the words actively grab the reader and shine a light on a past obstacle that they accomplished themselves. She vigorously grasps the reader’s attention by utilizing words that only speak to the reader. For example, when she uses “you” it only implies to the reader. Oliver does not involve anyone else in that pronoun. “You” is a specific pronoun that primarily targets an individual.Thus, after completing said struggle, the reward is gaining new confidence in oneself and being comfortable in a situation. Looking for the quote itself, mainly at the “One day you finally know / what you had to do” (92. 1-2), clearly explains how the speaker goes through a similar process of struggle and understanding what the problem is. Oliver uses other positive words throughout her poem. There are many other instances. 

In the middle of her poem, she explains the struggles of overcoming a problem. She writes, “And there was a new voice / which you slowly  / recognized as your own” (92.27-29). Unfortunately, this quote is also the darkest quote in her entire poem, but this is the highest point of individuality. Oliver makes this quite dark by letting the reader understand most self-caused problems or severe problems can only be fixed through individuality. She informs the reader that, depending on the circumstance, it’s wise to leave people behind and only listen to oneself. Only one knows what oneself want, and it is not always beneficial to listen to others. Accomplishing a difficult task can be satisfying and a boost in confidence because she encourages the reader to be this independent entity by identifying issues by one’s self.

Mary Oliver uses a unique form of diction to grab the reader whereas most writers struggle to capture their readers. She uses secondary pronouns throughout her entire poem targeting the reader. This, plus her lack of details, allows the reader to relate physically and emotionally to most of the instances discussed. For example, Oliver quotes, “The only thing you could do- / determined to save / the only life you could save” (92. 34-36). Her usage of “you” and her vagueness in details are critical in this poem because it is a means of boosting the reader’s confidence. When one reads this quote, one can relate because every individual has dealt with an obstacle in their lives. And with her diction of the pronouns, it allows the reader to remind themselves of how they accomplished that obstacle by themselves gaining confidence through their individuality.  

 Ultimately, Oliver uses specific words and details for the reader so that they can gain more confidence by their individuality. Oliver uses pronouns like “you,” “your” and “me” to put the idea of individuality in the mind of the reader while analyzing the poem. This, plus the vagueness in her sentence structure, allows for most people to relate to what she is writing about. Along with Oliver’s ideas. It’s important that more poems like this are published. These poems can really help people through hard times. Especially in today’s society, the lost of self-confidence is a huge poem. So, a poem that could highlight personal achievements and praise the individual accomplishments would do a huge deal for everyone.  
