Both A Roadside Stand by Robert Frost and Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers by Adrienne Rich explore themes of emotional conflict, but in different ways. The roadside dwellers and Aunt Jennifer represent two different struggles—one economic and one personal—both rooted in powerlessness and longing for change.
1. The Roadside Dwellers – Frustration and Hope
In A Roadside Stand, the rural poor set up a small roadside stall, hoping that passing city dwellers will buy their goods and provide them with a means to survive. However, their hopes are repeatedly crushed as wealthy travelers ignore or look down upon them. This creates a conflict between:
- Hope – They long for financial stability and recognition.
- Despair – Their dream is continuously shattered as they remain invisible and powerless.
Frost paints a picture of economic disparity where the rural poor are trapped in an unfair system that gives them false hopes of prosperity but never truly uplifts them.
2. Aunt Jennifer – Fear and Suppressed Desire
In Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers, the protagonist is trapped in a patriarchal marriage, burdened by oppression and fear. Unlike the roadside dwellers, whose conflict is with society at large, Aunt Jennifer’s struggle is deeply personal:
- Fear and Oppression – Her "massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band" symbolizes the restrictions placed on her by marriage.
- Desire for Freedom – She expresses her suppressed emotions through embroidery, creating tigers that are bold, strong, and fearless—everything she cannot be.
Adrienne Rich highlights gender-based oppression, showing that even in artistic expression, Aunt Jennifer’s emotions remain conflicted—she creates symbols of power, yet she herself remains powerless.
