answersLogoWhite

0

In this domestic epic, a man and woman converse on the porch of their farmhouse. The man is just coming home in the evening; his wife meets him at the door to warn him that Silas, the old ne'r-do-well hired hand, had returned that day. She found him "huddled against the barn door, fast asleep, / A miserable sight, and frightening, too--"

Silas looked terribly ill, yet he didn't ask for help. Instead, he told her he would cut the upper pasture, and he kept inquiring about the college boy he worked with on the farm a few years back. He and the boy argued all the time; now the old man wants to "make things right."

The husband shakes his head. No, he will not take Silas back. The old man walked away one too many times. You can't depend on him to stay and finish the job when someone comes around offering him a little "pocket money" to go elsewhere. Indeed, Silas's brother is the president of a bank; why doesn't he go to his brother for help? At last the husband quiets down and goes in to see the old man, who is presumably asleep beside the stove. A few moments later, he returns to the porch. To his wife's query, "'Dead,' was all he answered." [175 lines]

The hired hand has returned "home" to die. Though kinship would suggest that the old man's rich brother ought to provide a home for him, Silas evidently feels more at home with the farm couple, who have supported him over the years. The poem presents two definitions of "home": " 'Home is the place where, when you have to go there, / They have to take you in.' / 'I should have called it / Something you somehow haven't to deserve.' "

In this case Silas appears to have come "home" by both definitions. Despite his initial refusal, it looks as if Warren (the farmer) will have to take his old hand in, though Silas has done nothing to deserve it. Of course, when the moment of truth arrives, Silas is already dead.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

Is the Death of the Hired man a metaphor?

is the death of a hired man a metaphor?


When was The Death of the Hired Man created?

The Death of the Hired Man was created in 1915.


Who wrote the death of the hired man?

me -m.m-


Definition of home in Death of the Hired Man?

nice


Who wrote death of a hired man?

Robert frost


Who dies in the death of a hired man?

mary, warren, and silas


Who are the speakers in The Death of the Hired Man Poem?

In "The Death of the Hired Man," the speakers are Mary and Warren, a married couple who are discussing the return of their former farmhand, Silas, who is on his deathbed. Their conversation explores themes of loyalty, forgiveness, and the value of work and relationships.


What two skills does Silas want to teach Harold in The death of a hired man?

In "The Death of the Hired Man," Silas wants to teach Harold the importance of hard work and loyalty. He emphasizes the value of dedication to one's responsibilities and the trustworthiness of honoring commitments.


What do The Death of the Hired Man and Thanatopsis have in common?

Both "The Death of the Hired Man" by Robert Frost and "Thanatopsis" by William Cullen Bryant contemplate themes related to death and mortality. They both explore the human experience and emotions surrounding death, reflecting on the inevitable end of life. Additionally, both poems portray nature as a source of comfort and solace in the face of death.


Character of silas in death of the hired man by Robert Frost?

The Character Silas in the poem, "The Death of a Hired Man," is and elder man whom tries to redem his job again at the home of an old employer. He is the somewhat anatgonist of the story since he is the one that causes the comotion and the conflict in the poem.


What is the ISBN of The Hired Man?

The ISBN of The Hired Man is 0436067056.


When was The Hired Man created?

The Hired Man was created in 1969.