Robert Frost Depression

It is not uncommon for a writer, a poet, or any artist to come down with fits of depression. After all, these are the people who examine the world and are constantly pondering what it presents them. And for some, their gift may have led to their demise. Many of the greats like Ernest Hemingway, Kurt Cobain, Vincent Van Gogh and David Foster Wallace struggled with deep depression and mental illness all their lives, their works and pursuits continuously exacerbating their state of mind, until they ultimately decided that suicide was the only option. Robert Frost was also affected by the darkness of depression. But he, through his constant communion with the thing he writes so much about, was able to overcome it. The poems "Dust of Snow" and "Stopping
The poem tells of a man who is walking somewhere with his horse one night, and stops to ponder the sight of the woods for some time. Then, he is reminded of his duties, and continues on his way. The man in this poem is depressed, much like the man in "Dust of Snow". When he looks into the woods, it serves as a metaphor for the man contemplating his own suicide. Frost describes the woods as "lovely, dark and deep". This description makes the woods seem very appealing, to the point where one would want to step into the them and walk through them. Frost is likening these woods to embracing one's depression and committing suicide. This is because the thought of ending one's life might seem appealing to one stricken with deep depression. But, the man does not embrace his depression. Instead, he carries on and continues with his life, saying to himself, twice, that he has "miles to go before [he] sleeps". The repetition in this line seems to be a mantra for the man, which he repeats in order to convince himself that he must go through with his life. But what ultimately brings this man out of his depressed state? It is the "promises" mentioned in line 10, which the man feels he needs to uphold. So, it is society and other people who save the