Robert Frost's "Fire and Ice"

Robert Frost's poetry is infused with symbolism and connotative value. Frost's treatment of nature is not Romantic, and does not pertain to moral edification like Wordsworth." While Wordsworth makes the natural supernatural, and Coleridge leaves the supernatural natural, Robert Frost renders the natural universal. Fire and Ice", though a small poem, is replete with strong symbolism and therefore has a universal appeal.

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

Let me first allude to the essential difference between 'fire' and 'ice'. The four basic elements are earth, water, air and fire. They all hold the exquisite property of purification. However,' fire' possesses an attribute that none of these have. The rest purify, but they get impure in the process. 'Fire' is the only element that purifies and stays uncontaminated even after purification.. Moreover, human beings are more vulnerable to extreme cold than extreme heat. This is why the poet seems to favour 'fire' as an element over 'ice'. As an element he would attribute second place to 'ice', that is, if the earth were to perish twice.

Fire also stands for "passion" and "the warmth of love". Whereas,"ice" connotes "indifference" and "cold-bloodedness" While the poet may wish for the earth to end in love in the former section; he comprehends in the latter part that 'hate' may make it easier for people to separate from each other.

Next, we analyze the possibility of the earth ending in "ice" or "fire". Only the believers of faith would go for the second option; the agnostics would go for "ice". It would therefore reveal the conflict between science and religion. Modern Science explains how global warming could trigger a new ice age, which would destroy all life as we know it. In Frost's "Birches" he states he would like to swing on the branches of the birches and ascend to heavenly altitudes .Subsequently, he declares that he would like to come back to earth, for, "Earth's the right place for love." In "The Road Not Taken", he ponders onto opt for one of the two routes and later goes for a different decision. Here too, the poet appears to be taking a U-turn. He chooses 'fire' first; and then says that if the earth were to perish twice, he would go for "ice". Anna.K.Juhnke in her essay "Religion in Robert Frost's Poetry: The Play for Self-Possession" asserts that "religious" is one of the last adjectives that would be used to describe Robert Frost's poetry.

The next interpretation, the one I find the most plausible is: 'fire' and 'ice' referring to 'hell' and 'heaven' respectively. In the first case, he deems hell ultimately suitable for the world driven by 'desire'. He claims the guilty must be put to test. Nevertheless he asserts, if the world were to perish twice, then he would like to choose' ice' or 'heaven' for the world has had enough of 'hate'. Robert Frost echoes that being a human being is not always a 'Faustian contract'. Man does not have to essentially pay the price for his enjoyment, he must have his share of 'ice' too.

Finally,as I analyze the poem on a literal level, I find that if Frost has chosen 'ice' were the world were to perish twice, it must be out of favouritism. Why? Because 'ice' is nothing but a synonym for "Frost" (the poet's name).