The Death of the Hired Man Explication

            The actions of a people is reflective of their society and culture. In “The Death of a Hired Man” by Robert Frost, we get a glimpse into the lives of people in rural America. This poem is a commentary on the value of life and how that is determined. Frost uses different character’s opinions to emphasize and demonstrate how contrasting viewpoints lead to diverging values; the poet also utilizes the setting to show the basic struggle omnipresent in all aspects of life.

            The situation is described in third person which lends itself to the idea that the reader is getting a peek into the lives of normal, rural people. Unadulterated by airs or polite lies, this straight view is a truthful representation of a part of American society.

            Although the poem appears to describe a man’s, Silas, situation in life, it actually illustrates the two main characters. The husband and wife pair are farm owners.

The wife, Mary, represents a more understanding, generous, but conflicted view. “Be kind”, “wait”, “humble” are all words she uses. She urges caution and patience, despite being betrayed by a contract-breaking Silas previously. Her principles bring to mind what many portray as Christianity’s ideas. The description she creates of him is of someone to be pitied – an old, sick, and repentant man. The focus of her narrative is the good he’s done and his pitiable situation. If she was the only one in the poem, the readers would be lead to feel he was a man of value, if misguided and tragic.

            Warren is the colder, more analytical of the pair. He pinpoints the bad Silas has done 

describing how he “goes always when I need him most.”.  The husband’s portrayal of Silas details 

an inconsistent, untrustworthy man. Silas’ worth is judged, by the husband, according to his 

usefulness. Practicality is king in the man’s mind; this isn’t a bad trait, quite the reverse because 

it allows for survival.  He seems to have little value for any intrinsic value present in a human life, 

viewing that the person makes their own value. 

               The pair go back and forth, each trying to convince the other of their opinion and 

position. They attempt to balance moral values with basic needs. This suggestion plays at the 

idea that people are constantly trying to balance good morals with practicality, something not 

always easy to achieve.

               All of the struggle in the poem is fortified by the setting. Farm life is often a metaphor for 

simplicity and the basic needs of life. The raw fight with nature to survive is easily seen in rural 

living. The bleakness of their existence compares favorably with Silas’ fight for work and the 

husband-wife’s need for a well working farm. They are not united by their vision of value, but 

they all have the basic human needs.