In the poem "Home Burial" by Robert Frost, it is easy to see both
positive and negative aspects of both characters. I feel that Frost favors the
man. Although he talks about how the man seems to not have feelings, the man
actually does. The man feels sad for his dead child. He just goes about showing
it in a different way. The man feels that he must move on with his life. He
tries to get his mind off the whole thing. He digs the grave and then tries to
focus on other things. He worries about the fence and doesn’t even realize
that he can see the child’s grave from the window. Its not that he doesn’t
care, he just can’t deal with it the same way that the woman can. It was the
lifestyle of men during the early 1900’s to not show feelings. He didn’t
know how to show feelings. He even asked his wife to help him. (Line 61)
"Apart would make me out. Give me my chance". He wants to be able to
understand her and maybe even share some feelings of his own. The woman is more
emotional. She can’t believe that her husband could just go on and live his
life. However, this was the best thing for her husband. She needs someone’s
shoulder to cry on and can’t understand why he can’t be there for her. She
is walking out on her marriage and her home. She can’t deal with it, so she
runs away. This portrays her as a weak character. She is unable to deal so she
flees. The man is strong and deals with is how he sees fit.