Stephen Crane

The Wayfarer

The Wayfarer - meaning Summary

Truth’s Overgrown, Perilous Path

Crane’s brief fable describes a traveler who discovers the route to truth but finds it overgrown and dangerous. Initially surprised, he notices the growth are singular knives and concludes that others must avoid this road. The poem presents truth as a difficult, potentially harmful pursuit that deters seekers, suggesting that people choose easier, safer alternatives rather than confront the sharp demands of understanding.

Read Complete Analyses

The wayfarer, Perceiving the pathway to truth, Was struck with astonishment. It was thickly grown with weeds. "Ha," he said, "I see that none has passed here In a long time." Later he saw that each weed Was a singular knife. "Well," he mumbled at last, "Doubtless there are other roads."

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