In Robert Frosts Poem "Mending Wall,"" we see a theme of tradition, and many cases of symbolism relating to this theme, in the manner of the wall and repairing it. The narrator of this poem states early in the work that every spring he and the neighbor walk and repair the wall, noting that "Something there is that doesn't love a wall " (line 1) and that "But at spring mending-time we find them there"" (line 12), meaning they find gaps and holes that were created by some unknown force. The theme is present here, that in tradition they meet each spring to make repairs "And set the wall between us once again"" (line 14). .
The narrator sees no point in repairing this wall each spring. He uses many elements of symbolism directed towards the wall. The narrator makes a point of saying "There where it is we do not need the wall " (line 23) and his neighbor replies "Good fences make good neighbors"" (line 27). The narrator uses the wall to symbolize the separation of the men, that could be friends on top of just being neighbors, but also connects this to the theme of tradition when he says himself in regards to his neighbor "He will not go behind his father's saying"" (line 43). .
Tradition plays such a large part in the poem, even though it does not make sense in so many aspects. The wall represents this boundary in the narrator's eyes, he even states "He is all pine and I am apple orchard"" (line 24) and, "My apple trees will never get across, And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him"" (line 26 & 27). The narrator wants change, to not repair this wall, and perhaps in leaving the wall to ruins, open a door to more communication and friendship between the two men. The neighbor relates to the traditions he was taught, and prefers to only meet once a year to repair the wall, that keeps nothing in, and nothing out. The neighbor is alienating himself and the narrator, keeping firm lines drawn, even thou they only have to step over the wall to get to each other's property, to him the wall represents how close he wants to allow the narrator into his life.
