Religious Study Of Uncertainty In Robert Frost's Poetry

In the sense of religious belief, Robert Frost roughly underwent three characteristic phases: a believer in early years, a skeptic in middle years and a compromiser in late years, as was reflected in his works of different historical periods. The religious forces coming to him in early years such as Swedenborgiansim, Puritanism and Unitarianism helped form the poetry themes of mysticism, obligations and over-soul; the skepticism in middle years caused by inconsolable spiritual crises were embodied in the dark nature and the swinging images between the lines; while his return to God in late years indicates his compromise with the deity and the complete achievement of self-salvation after long-time contemplation over mercy and reason and pursuit of form in poetry. The three religious states are not clearly separated from each other but now and then over-lapped so as to form a most conspicuous element of Frost's poems—uncertainty. This religious uncertainty mirrors his belief shattered by familial miseries and modern anxiety. Through organization and order, poetry writing acts as the best way for him to have a momentary stay against confusion and uncertainty, which in turn enables him to have more reasonable understanding of God's mercy and ensures his religious self-salvation.