Mary Oliver’s poem, “The Journey” is a universal message about transformation. Throughout the poem, the speaker comes face to face with many forces trying to hold her back, and ultimately choses to ignore these roadblocks. The author realizes that in order to find her own voice in the world she must follow the path that fulfills her desires and frees her from societies limitations. Oliver recognizes that she must listen to her own voice and leave behind the negative voices of others. This realization is seen through the transformation of the speaker from struggling with external influences to freeing herself of the opinions and advice of others.

Mary Oliver starts out the poem as the start of her journey of life, with the critiques of society’s negative voice surrounding her. Just like the speakers experience, almost everyone begins life naive and open to listening to surrounding voices telling us what to do. Mary Oliver states, “One day you finally knew what you had to do and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice” (92). In this exert from the text, the speaker if referring to the voices symbolizing everything in life that are trying restrict her from her full potential. Here, Mary Oliver is speaking about the people in life who will use negativity to hold others back. 

Another example of some of the restricting institutions the speaker is referring could be along the lines of religion, government or education, whose strict rules could be a contributor of limitations. She immediately feels overcome by the things in her life that are trying to restrict her right as her journey through life has begun. It is very hard for the speaker to shake the voices, which is similar to how it is difficult people in real life to resist the temptations of doing things that are seen as wrong and against personal character. More often than not, we are guilty of committing actions that we believe our wrong. The speaker realizes the restrictions that come with listening to the voices, and continues on preserving with her personal journey. 

While the poem progresses, the speaker continues on in an attempt to listen to her own voice by ignoring the external ones shouting at her. The speakers determination is proven when she states, ‘“Mend my life!’ each voice cried. But you didn't stop. You knew what you had to do””(92). In this section of the text the voices are selfishly begging for the author to help them. She realizes that she must put herself first and tune out the negativity in order to keep moving forward. Mary Oliver’s experiences in this section are universal to everyone. There are many times where a person could be tempted by external influences to do things that could delay or prevent their success. Those experiences are ones that truly test character, but when we stay true to ourselves and our mission in life we will prevail. The speakers perseverance allows her to surpass not only those trying to hold her back but also the negatives of society in order to continue on her path in life. 

The change in the tone throughout the poem and the repetition of the word “voices” plays a large role in this poem as it makes the transition of the authors mindset clear. We see Oliver transition from letting the voices get into her head, to setting herself free of them. The negative and restrictive tone of Oliver’s writing in the beginning of the poem can be seen when she writes, “though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles…” (92). The description of the house trembling gives insight to the controlling influence the voices had on the author. In the beginning, Oliver was in a place where she was easily influenced by these voices. As the poem progresses, the term “voices” is repeated to remind the audience that the voices are holding her back from reaching her potential. As we get towards the end of the poem, the word is repeated to show how the tides have turned. Oliver now is beginning to listen to her own voice and let that guide her on her path. This is seen when she writes, “and there was a new voice which you slowly recognized as your own, that kept you company as you strode deeper and deeper into the world…” (92). This revolution causes a change in tone to become more positive and shows the speakers perseverance. The realization that the author should leave the negativity of the voices behind liberates her. She know knows to achieve personal success, she must listen to her intuition and do what is best for herself. This change in tone and repetition of the word “voices” shows the transition the speaker has made. She has transformed from listening to others negativity and opinions to being independent and in control of her personal journey. 

After examining Mary Oliver’s life journey, it is clear to see her transformation from an innocent and naive starting point in life to become a confident and secure woman by the end. It is easy to see this transition due to the way she reacts to and grows from negative exterior influences. In the beginning, she is unsure of herself and is vulnerable to the opinions of others. No matter how strongly the negativity pulls her, she does not give in. As she grows and moves on with her journey, she learns to put herself and her thoughts first over the voices of others. She does not give in to the voices, instead grows from them. By listening to her own voice she is able to create her own path and form her personal journey.  Throughout the struggles and triumphs along her  journey of life, Mary Oliver comes to the realization that she must find her own voice to truly live the life that brings her happiness. 
