The poem “A Roadside Stand”, composed by Robert Frost, is about a farmer who puts a little new shed in front of his house on the edge of a road. This shed is used as a roadside stand where wild berries, squash, and other farm products are displayed for sale. Thousands of cars are seen speeding past the stand every day. The farmer does not wish to receive charity; instead, his products are sold in the hope that some money will be earned. However, his hopes are never fulfilled. People in cars go past without even giving a cursory look at his stall. And if a few of them happen to look at it, they see how the letters N and S had been turned wrong. They believe that such badly painted signs spoil the beauty of the countryside.
Nevertheless, a few cars did stop. One of them desired to take a U-turn. It came into the farmer’s yard and spoiled the grass. Another car stopped to know the way. And one of them stopped as it needed petrol, though it was quite evident that the farmer did not sell petrol. Meanwhile, the village people are shown as very poor and earning very little money. They have not seen much money. They lead a life of poverty. It is known that some good-doers plan to remove their poverty. They aimed to buy their property on the roadside to build theatres and stores. They plan to shift the villagers into the village huddled together. They wished to teach them the ways that could change their good and healthy habits. They even aimed to teach them to sleep during daytime. The ‘greedy good-doers’ and ‘beneficent beasts of prey’ desired to force the benefits on the poor village people and befool them.
Finally, deep sadness is felt by the poet while seeing the suffering of the poor villagers. For a moment, a childish thought comes to his mind that their pain could end if they were wiped out at once. However, this idea is soon realized to be foolish. In the end, the poet wishes that his own pain and helplessness could be ended.
Intro of “A Roadside Stand”
A Roadside Stand Summary
Central Idea of the Poem
The poem “A Roadside Stand” is the poet’s plea for consideration for the simple people of the countryside whose lives have shown no progress. He expresses his pain at their sadness and sorrow and seeks support and relief for them. He hopes someone would work unselfishly for their rehabilitation and not exploit them. He brings out the wide disparity between the “haves” and the “have-nots” with pitiless clarity and humanity and seems to suggest that the economic well-being of a country depends on a balanced development of villages and cities.
Important points to remember
The poem “A Roadside Stand”, composed by Robert Frost is about a farmer who puts a little new shed in front of his house on the edge of a road.
This shed is used as a roadside stand where wild berries, squash, and other farm products are displayed for sale.
Thousands of cars are seen speeding past the stand every day.
The farmer does not wish to receive charity; instead, his products are sold in the hope that some money will be earned.
People in cars go past without even giving a cursory look at his stall.
They believe that such badly painted signs spoil the beauty of the countryside.
Some good-doers plan to remove their poverty by buying their property on the roadside to build theatres and stores.
The ‘greedy good-doers’ and ‘beneficent beasts of prey’ desired to force the benefits on the poor village people and befool them.
Finally, deep sadness is felt by the poet while seeing the suffering of the poor villagers.
