Throughout one’s life, a person may go on several different journeys that are all unique in their own way. A physical journey can be that of someone going from point A to point B but may entail an emotional and/or spiritual journey brought on by the challenges or obstacles faced while on the physical journey. From overwhelming joy after getting married to experiencing feelings of grief following a devastating loss, an emotional journey encompasses a rollercoaster of highs and lows over a period of time. On a deeper level, a spiritual journey deals with that unseen part of a person in which their soul travels on a path to discover things unknown about themselves in effort to achieve enlightenment. In “The Journey” by Mary Oliver, Oliver challenges the audience to choose the pathway less traveled. This path leads the reader on both an emotional and spiritual journey in efforts to test their ability of becoming an individual and finding their voice. 

At the beginning of the poem, the reader is made aware that society constantly “shouts their bad advice” (line 5). This is the first instance where the reader is urged to not conform to the majority opinion and instead venture on their own trail. Society tends to have a powerful and relentless grip on a person’s endeavor to be original:

          and you felt the old tug

          at your ankles. 

          “Mend my life!

          each voice cried. (lines 8-11)

The voices mentioned are referring to those within society begging for help however by allowing one to heed towards their calls, it hinders their journey of finding their own voice. Another significant detail in this quote is that the tug of the voices is felt on the ankles which implies that the voices are bringing the person down. Oliver could have used a different word to describe the voices pulling at the ankles, but tugging suggest how hard the voices of society can hold back a person.

Journeys are filled with obstacles, but this is what shapes the outcome of the journey and helps one find themselves through the midst of their spiritual voyage. Mary Oliver reveals that along the trek of finding individualism and personal views there are hardships that will be encountered such as “…a wild night, / and the road full of fallen / branches and stones.” (lines 20-22) Although tribulations may occur, what is important is how one picks themselves up again and continues on their way. Some may allow the branches and stones in their path to impede their journey, but Oliver’s point of her writing is to encourage the audience to not let anything get in the way of them achieving their own voice in a conforming society. The poem changes directions from one trying to find their voice, to them finding their voice after “…you left their voices behind” (line 24) 

In a collectivist society, like the one talked about in the poem, conformity is seen as the cement that binds others together. Differing from the collectivist opinions results in being labeled as an individual which is what Mary Oliver begs the reader to become. The personal view and opinions in one’s brain begin to emerge like “the stars began to burn / through the sheets of clouds”. (lines 25-26) The stars are interpreted to be someone’s own beliefs or values and as one finds their voice, those thoughts begin to burn and bring light to their mind. Recall whenever a light is turned on and what this new brightness does to its surroundings. Things become clear and visible which is why hearing one’s own voice is paralleled to a light being on. The next comparison is how one’s views burn through the sheets of clouds. The sheets of clouds here would be the blanket of societies thoughts which is why after finding one’s voice, their view breaks through that blanket. Also the light breaking through the sheet of clouds is like how one breaks away from the socialistic views. Once a person discovers their voice, they can use it to diversify themselves and attribute instead of conform to society. 

After going on an emotional journey trying to complete the daunting task of finding one’s voice, the challenge is complete and it is then whenever the realization is made that their voice has been there guiding them the entire time. At the end of the poem, Mary Oliver writes:

          determined to do

          the only thing you could do –

          determined to save

          the only life you could save. (lines 33-36)

This only further supports that the poem is meant to inspire those reading to become an individual. The only thing someone can do is to save themselves because the needs and wants of someone vary from person to person. No one knows any one better than they know themselves. They know their dreams and aspirations along with their deepest longings and necessities. Without becoming an individual, they allow society to tell them what to think and feel therefor impeding a person’s journey all together. 
