Poem Analysis - Provide Provide

Introduction: A Stark Reflection on Aging and Security

Robert Frost's "Provide, Provide" is a cynical and somewhat bleak exploration of aging and the pursuit of security in a world that often disregards those who have lost their power or beauty. The poem begins with a jarring image of lost glory and then transitions into a series of grimly pragmatic suggestions. The tone is sharp and unsentimental, shifting from melancholic observation to almost desperate advice. The poem ultimately urges a relentless pursuit of material security as a bulwark against the inevitable hardships of old age and fading relevance.

The Vanishing Beauty: A Central Motif

The poem opens with a powerful image: the former Hollywood star Abishag reduced to a "withered hag," washing steps. This transformation serves as the poem's central motif, highlighting the fleeting nature of beauty and fame. The contrast between her past and present is stark and unsettling. Abishag is not presented as a unique case, but as an example of a common, even predictable, downfall. The lines "Too many fall from great and good / For you to doubt the likelihood" reinforce this idea, establishing a sense of inevitability and prompting the reader to consider their own vulnerability to similar fates.

Material Security: A Response to Insecurity

One of the poem's main themes is the necessity of material security as a safeguard against the indignities of old age. The poem doesn't advocate for virtue or inner peace. Instead, it suggests ruthlessly accumulating wealth and power. The hyperbolic prescriptions – "Make the whole stock exchange your own!" and "If need be occupy a throne" – emphasize the extreme measures one might take to avoid becoming a "crone," vulnerable and disregarded. The poem implies that only wealth and power can provide a shield against the harsh realities of aging and societal neglect.

The Illusion of Alternatives: Questioning Other Paths

Frost briefly considers alternative paths to security, such as relying on knowledge or integrity: "Some have relied on what they knew, / Others on being simply true." However, this consideration is quickly dismissed. The poem implies that these qualities are insufficient to protect against the ravages of time and societal indifference. The line "What worked for them might work for you" is delivered with a sense of skepticism, almost a challenge to the reader to prove it wrong. The poem suggests that these virtues offer little practical defense in a world that values power and wealth above all else.

"Provide, Provide!": The Final Plea

The recurring phrase "Provide, provide!" is the poem's central imperative and a stark summary of its message. It is a direct and urgent plea for self-reliance and proactive accumulation of resources. The final lines, "Better to go down dignified / With boughten friendship at your side / Than none at all," illustrate the poem's cynical view of relationships and societal values. Even friendship is presented as something that can be bought, a means of maintaining dignity and avoiding isolation in old age. The repetition of "Provide, provide!" underscores the relentless pressure to secure one's future in a world where everything, even companionship, is transactional.

Concluding Thoughts: A Bleak Assessment of Human Nature

"Provide, Provide" is a relentlessly pessimistic poem that offers a bleak assessment of human nature and societal values. It suggests that beauty, talent, and even virtue are ultimately insufficient to guarantee security or respect in old age. The poem's cynical tone and stark imagery paint a picture of a world where material wealth is the only reliable safeguard against hardship and neglect. While unsettling, the poem's enduring power lies in its unflinching exploration of the anxieties surrounding aging and the relentless pursuit of security in a world that often seems indifferent to individual suffering.