Depression and Sadness

Baylee,In Robert Frost’s poem, “Acquainted with the Night” he uses symbolism to compare darkness with depression. “I have been one acquainted with the night,” (711) is the first line. It sets the tone of the story, along with the setting. He uses darkness as a symbolism for depression and sadness. “I have outwalked the furthest city light,” (711) symbolizes him outwalking the last bit of light in his life. He is walking into the darkness of depression and walking out of the last bit of light that’s left. There is no light left in his life, at least the aspect of a community type scene. He often uses the word aquatinted. This can also be interpreted as symbolism because the definition of an acquaintance is someone who you are briefly and merely accustomed to, who we wouldn’t quite call a friend. The darkness is his acquaintance, he is not friendly and open to this darkness because the darkness is his depressive state. “Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right, I have been one acquainted with the night,” (711) is a powerful line. It ties all the symbolism together. Frost is telling us that the timing is never right for depression. It comes at its own pace and at it’s own time. Symbolism is a powerful element in literature and makes the reader think deeper about the true meaning of the poem. Robert Frost uses the darkness as a symbol for depression in his poem, “Acquainted with the Night”.