Introduction: “Provide, Provide” by Robert Frost
“Provide, Provide” by Robert Frost, first appeared in his 1936 collection A Further Range, exhibits characteristic blend of stark realism and contemplative reflection on life’s inevitable changes. With a tone that is both cynical and practical, the poem explores themes of survival, decay, and the ruthless passage of time, urging individuals to prepare for the harsh realities of aging and societal neglect. The main idea revolves around the necessity of securing one’s future, suggesting that those who fail to “provide” for themselves risk being cast aside, powerless against the forces of time and fate. The poem’s striking, almost biting, wisdom serves as a warning to act pragmatically before it is too late.
Text: “Provide, Provide” by Robert Frost
The witch that came (the withered hag)
To wash the steps with pail and rag,
Was once the beauty Abishag,
The picture pride of Hollywood.
Too many fall from great and good
For you to doubt the likelihood.
Die early and avoid the fate.
Or if predestined to die late,
Make up your mind to die in state.
Make the whole stock exchange your own!
If need be occupy a throne,
Where nobody can call you crone.
Some have relied on what they knew;
Others on simply being true.
What worked for them might work for you.
No memory of having starred
Atones for later disregard,
Or keeps the end from being hard.
Better to go down dignified
With boughten friendship at your side
Than none at all. Provide, provide!
Annotations: “Provide, Provide” by Robert Frost
Stanza 1:
The witch that came (the withered hag)
To wash the steps with pail and rag,
Was once the beauty Abishag,
- Annotation: The stanza opens with a stark contrast between past beauty and present decay. The “withered hag” washing the steps is revealed to have once been “the beauty Abishag.” Abishag is a biblical figure, known for her youthful beauty, who was chosen to comfort the aged King David (1 Kings 1:1-4). Frost uses this allusion to emphasize how even those who were once admired for their beauty eventually face the ravages of time. This sets the tone of the poem, which deals with the inevitable decline that accompanies aging.
Stanza 2:
The picture pride of Hollywood.
Too many fall from great and good
For you to doubt the likelihood.
- Annotation: Here, Frost expands the theme of decline to a broader scope, referencing the fleeting nature of fame. “The picture pride of Hollywood” refers to glamorous stars who, like Abishag, were once admired for their beauty but later fell into obscurity. Frost reminds the reader that many people, despite reaching great heights, eventually fall. The phrase “for you to doubt the likelihood” implies that such a fall from grace is common and inevitable for most, reinforcing the idea that time spares no one.
Stanza 3:
Die early and avoid the fate.
Or if predestined to die late,
Make up your mind to die in state.
- Annotation: This stanza offers two grim alternatives regarding mortality. “Die early and avoid the fate” suggests that an early death might spare someone the indignities of old age and decay. However, for those “predestined to die late,” Frost advises them to die with dignity and in luxury (“die in state”). The emphasis here is on controlling one’s fate to some extent, either by accepting death early or preparing for a more stately end if one lives a long life.
Stanza 4:
Make the whole stock exchange your own!
If need be occupy a throne,
Where nobody can call you crone.
- Annotation: In this stanza, Frost advises accumulating wealth and power as a defense against society’s scorn in old age. The “whole stock exchange” symbolizes immense wealth, and “occupy a throne” suggests a position of power. The message is clear: if you acquire enough wealth and status, you can shield yourself from being dismissed or ridiculed as a “crone” (an old, unattractive woman). Frost seems to advocate for pragmatism over idealism—focusing on securing material resources to retain dignity.
Stanza 5:
Some have relied on what they knew;
Others on simply being true.
What worked for them might work for you.
- Annotation: This stanza reflects on how different people secure their place in the world—some through knowledge (“what they knew”) and others through authenticity (“simply being true”). However, Frost casts doubt on the reliability of these strategies, as the phrase “what worked for them might work for you” suggests that such methods are not guaranteed. The vagueness of “might” underlines the poem’s central theme of uncertainty and the precariousness of relying solely on intangible qualities for long-term security.
Stanza 6:
No memory of having starred
Atones for later disregard,
Or keeps the end from being hard.
- Annotation: In this stanza, Frost continues to emphasize the fleeting nature of fame and success. The speaker asserts that “no memory of having starred”—meaning no matter how prominent or successful someone once was—can make up for being forgotten or ignored in old age. The phrase “keeps the end from being hard” suggests that neither past achievements nor nostalgia can prevent a difficult end, reinforcing the inevitability of decline.
Stanza 7:
Better to go down dignified
With boughten friendship at your side
Than none at all. Provide, provide!
- Annotation: The final stanza delivers the poem’s moral message. Frost argues that it is “better to go down dignified” with material wealth, even if it means having “boughten friendship” (purchased companionship) rather than facing old age and death alone. The repetition of “Provide, provide!” serves as a final warning to take practical measures to secure one’s future. It suggests that wealth and preparation, though perhaps not ideal, offer more security than relying on intangible qualities like truth or past fame.
Summary of Key Themes:
- Inevitability of Decay: Frost highlights the unavoidable decline that comes with aging, even for those who were once famous, beautiful, or successful.
- Materialism vs. Idealism: The poem suggests that material wealth and power are more reliable defenses against the harshness of time than relying on knowledge, authenticity, or past success.
- Pragmatism: The repeated command to “provide” urges readers to take control of their fate by securing resources and status, emphasizing the need for practicality in the face of life’s uncertainties.
Literary And Poetic Devices: “Provide, Provide” by Robert Frost
| Literary/Poetic Device | Example from “Provide, Provide” | Explanation |
| Allusion | “Abishag (a biblical figure, symbolizing beauty and youth)” | Reference to a biblical figure to emphasize the fleeting nature of beauty. |
| Antithesis | “Die early and avoid the fate” | Contrasting ideas of dying early versus living longer in luxury. |
| Assonance | “To wash the steps with pail and rag” | Repetition of vowel sounds, ‘a’ in ‘wash’ and ‘rag’. |
| Caesura | “Die early and avoid the fate. // Or if predestined to die late,” | A pause between two lines, showing a shift in thought. |
| Chiasmus | “Some have relied on what they knew; // Others on simply being true” | Reversal of ideas in two lines to highlight contrast. |
| Consonance | “Better to go down dignified // With boughten friendship at your side” | Repetition of consonant sounds at the end of words. |
| Couplet | “Better to go down dignified // With boughten friendship at your side” | A pair of rhymed lines, signaling a complete thought. |
| Enjambment | “No memory of having starred // Atones for later disregard,” | Continuation of a sentence beyond the line break for flow. |
| Epigram | “Better to go down dignified // With boughten friendship at your side” | A brief, witty statement with a moral tone, capturing the essence of the poem. |
| Hyperbole | “Make the whole stock exchange your own!” | Exaggeration to make a point about accumulating wealth. |
| Imagery | “The withered hag” and “Abishag” (creates vivid images of decay and youth) | Vivid descriptions appealing to the senses, especially sight. |
| Irony | “What worked for them might work for you” (doubts effectiveness of past approaches) | The difference between the expectation of success and the reality of decline. |
| Juxtaposition | “The withered hag” and “Abishag” | Placing opposite ideas together to highlight their contrast. |
| Metaphor | “The whole stock exchange your own!” | Implied comparison between wealth and securing one’s future. |
| Metonymy | “The whole stock exchange” | Using something closely related to represent the whole (wealth for power). |
| Oxymoron | “With boughten friendship” | Two contradictory terms combined to create an effect. |
| Personification | “Make up your mind to die in state” | Attributing human qualities to an abstract concept. |
| Rhyme Scheme | AABBCC (used throughout the poem) | The pattern of rhymes, giving the poem structure. |
| Symbolism | “The throne” (symbolizing power and wealth) | Objects or figures representing broader concepts, like power or beauty. |
Themes: “Provide, Provide” by Robert Frost
- The Inevitability of Decay: One of the central themes in “Provide, Provide” is the inevitable decline that comes with time and aging. Frost highlights this in the opening stanza with the image of the “withered hag” who was once the beautiful Abishag, a biblical figure known for her youthful beauty. This transformation from beauty to decay serves as a powerful reminder of the impermanence of physical appearance and success. The lines “Too many fall from great and good // For you to doubt the likelihood” further emphasize that no one, regardless of their status, is immune to the effects of time.
- The Futility of Fame and Beauty: Frost underscores the transient nature of fame and beauty in “Provide, Provide.” The poem repeatedly suggests that no amount of past success or beauty can protect one from being forgotten or disregarded. The lines “No memory of having starred // Atones for later disregard” make it clear that past achievements cannot shield one from the harsh realities of old age. Hollywood stardom, once a symbol of grandeur, is depicted as fleeting, as even the “picture pride of Hollywood” can fall into obscurity with the passage of time.
- Pragmatism over Idealism: Throughout the poem, Frost promotes a pragmatic approach to life, urging individuals to prepare for the harsh realities ahead. This is most evident in the lines, “Better to go down dignified // With boughten friendship at your side // Than none at all.” The poem suggests that securing material wealth and status is a more reliable means of maintaining dignity in the face of aging and social neglect. Rather than relying on intangible qualities like authenticity or knowledge, the speaker advises readers to “Provide, provide”—to accumulate wealth and resources as a safeguard against life’s uncertainties.
- The Harshness of Society: “Provide, Provide” reflects on society’s tendency to discard those who no longer hold value, particularly as they age. The societal judgment of the “crone” and the “withered hag” underscores how society places importance on youth, beauty, and status, often neglecting the elderly. The lines “Where nobody can call you crone” reflect the speaker’s warning that, without wealth or power, one risks being dismissed or ridiculed by society. This theme suggests that society’s admiration is conditional and fleeting, and only those who “provide” for themselves can avoid being cast aside.
Literary Theories and “Provide, Provide” by Robert Frost
| Literary Theory | Application to “Provide, Provide” | References from the Poem |
| Marxist Criticism | Marxist criticism explores class struggle, power dynamics, and material wealth. In “Provide, Provide,” Frost emphasizes the importance of wealth and status as a means of survival and security. The poem suggests that only through accumulating wealth (“Make the whole stock exchange your own!”) can one avoid societal disregard, highlighting the capitalist pressures to maintain financial dominance and power. | “Make the whole stock exchange your own! // If need be occupy a throne” – The need to acquire wealth and power to maintain dignity in a capitalist society. |
| Psychoanalytic Theory | Psychoanalytic criticism can be applied to explore the underlying fears of aging, decay, and death present in the poem. The speaker’s obsession with avoiding societal neglect and physical decay reflects the human unconscious fear of mortality and loss of identity. The advice to “provide” suggests a coping mechanism against these existential anxieties. | “Die early and avoid the fate // Or if predestined to die late, // Make up your mind to die in state” – The fear of death and decay is central to the speaker’s advice to prepare and shield oneself against inevitable decline. |
| Feminist Criticism | Feminist criticism examines gender roles, particularly the societal devaluation of women as they age. In “Provide, Provide,” the transformation of the once-beautiful Abishag into a “withered hag” reflects how women’s worth is often tied to their youth and beauty. The poem critiques how society marginalizes older women, portraying them as undesirable and powerless unless they maintain status or wealth. | “The witch that came (the withered hag) // Was once the beauty Abishag” – This reference highlights how women are reduced to their physical appearance and discarded when they age. |
Critical Questions about “Provide, Provide” by Robert Frost
· How does Frost portray the inevitability of aging and decay in the poem?
- Frost emphasizes the unavoidable nature of aging and physical decline throughout “Provide, Provide.” The poem opens with the striking image of a “withered hag,” once a youthful beauty, now relegated to washing steps. The line “The witch that came (the withered hag) // Was once the beauty Abishag” juxtaposes past beauty with present decay, underscoring the inevitability of aging. Frost suggests that no one, regardless of their past beauty or status, can escape the effects of time. This inevitability is further emphasized in the lines, “Too many fall from great and good // For you to doubt the likelihood,” highlighting that decline is a universal human experience.
· What role does wealth play in securing dignity in the poem?
- Wealth is portrayed as a crucial means of securing dignity and avoiding societal scorn in the poem. Frost advises that accumulating wealth and status can help protect individuals from being discarded in old age. The lines “Make the whole stock exchange your own! // If need be occupy a throne” suggest that only those who secure wealth and power can escape being marginalized, as they will avoid the fate of being labeled as a “crone.” The repetition of “provide” throughout the poem reinforces the idea that material success is necessary to maintain control over one’s fate in the face of aging and societal judgment.
· What critique does the poem offer regarding societal values, particularly concerning beauty and success?
- Frost critiques society’s tendency to value individuals based on transient qualities like beauty and success, and to discard them when these attributes fade. The transformation of Abishag from beauty to “withered hag” represents how society prizes youth and beauty, but easily forgets those who have lost it. The lines “No memory of having starred // Atones for later disregard” point to the poem’s critique of how fleeting fame and success are, especially in a culture that prizes appearances and external achievements. Society, in this portrayal, has little regard for the elderly or those who no longer serve its superficial ideals.
· How does the poem reflect the tension between idealism and pragmatism?
- “Provide, Provide” reflects a tension between idealism and pragmatism, particularly in the way it contrasts intangible virtues like truth and knowledge with the practical need for wealth and security. Frost writes, “Some have relied on what they knew; // Others on simply being true,” indicating that some people place their faith in knowledge or honesty. However, the poem quickly casts doubt on these ideals with the phrase, “What worked for them might work for you,” implying uncertainty. Instead, the speaker advocates a more pragmatic approach—urging individuals to “provide” for themselves by amassing wealth, as this is portrayed as the most reliable way to secure one’s future dignity.
Literary Works Similar to “Provide, Provide” by Robert Frost
- “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley
This poem similarly explores the fleeting nature of power and fame, depicting the inevitable decay of once-great rulers and empires, much like Frost’s reflection on aging and societal disregard. - “The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot
Eliot’s poem also deals with themes of decay and the collapse of societal values, mirroring the sense of inevitable decline found in “Provide, Provide.” - “To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell
Marvell’s poem, like Frost’s, addresses the passage of time and the importance of making the most of one’s life before it’s too late, focusing on seizing opportunities before youth fades. - “When You Are Old” by W.B. Yeats
This poem reflects on the inevitability of aging and the loss of beauty, paralleling Frost’s portrayal of the consequences of growing old and the societal neglect that often follows. - “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas
Thomas’s poem urges resistance against the dying of the light (death and decay), similar to Frost’s pragmatic advice in “Provide, Provide” about preparing for the harsh realities of aging.
Representative Quotations of “Provide, Provide” by Robert Frost
| Quotation | Context | Theoretical Perspective |
| “The witch that came (the withered hag)” | Describes a woman who has aged and fallen from beauty to a decayed state. | Feminist Criticism: Reflects the devaluation of women based on age and appearance. |
| “Was once the beauty Abishag” | Refers to Abishag, a biblical figure known for her beauty, emphasizing the contrast between youth and age. | Psychoanalytic Theory: Explores the fear of losing youth and beauty as part of human anxiety about aging. |
| “Too many fall from great and good” | Highlights the inevitability of decline for those who were once powerful or successful. | Marxist Criticism: Suggests the instability of power and the inevitable fall of even the elite in a capitalist society. |
| “Die early and avoid the fate” | Advises an early death to avoid the disgrace of aging and decay. | Existentialism: Reflects a nihilistic view on the futility of trying to avoid inevitable decline. |
| “Make up your mind to die in state” | Suggests that if one cannot avoid death, they should die with dignity and wealth. | Marxist Criticism: Emphasizes wealth as a means to maintain dignity in a materialist society. |
| “Make the whole stock exchange your own!” | Encourages the accumulation of wealth to secure one’s future. | Capitalist Criticism: Highlights the poem’s pragmatic view that material wealth offers protection against the harshness of life. |
| “No memory of having starred // Atones for later disregard” | Fame and past success cannot prevent the harsh realities of old age and societal neglect. | Feminist and Psychoanalytic Criticism: Examines how society discards individuals, particularly women, when beauty and fame fade. |
| “Better to go down dignified // With boughten friendship at your side” | Advises that it’s better to have purchased relationships than to be completely alone in decline. | Marxist Criticism: Comments on the commodification of relationships in a capitalist system where even friendships can be bought. |
| “Some have relied on what they knew; // Others on simply being true.” | Suggests that past reliance on knowledge or honesty may not be effective as one faces the challenges of aging. | Psychoanalytic Theory: Reflects the disillusionment with traditional values and the anxiety of aging. |
| “Provide, provide!” | The recurring advice to prepare for the future by securing wealth and status. | Pragmatism: Emphasizes the importance of material preparation over idealism to survive in a competitive, aging world. |
Suggested Readings: “Provide, Provide” by Robert Frost
- Monteiro, George. “Robert Frost’s Liberal Imagination.” The Iowa Review, vol. 28, no. 3, 1998, pp. 104–27. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20154647. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.
- Perrine, Laurence. “Provide, Provide.” The Robert Frost Review, no. 2, 1992, pp. 33–39. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24727251. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.
- Wallace, Patricia. “Separateness and Solitude in Frost.” The Kenyon Review, vol. 6, no. 1, 1984, pp. 1–12. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4335427. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.
- Katz, Sandra L. “Robert Frost, Humorist.” The Robert Frost Review, no. 1, 1991, pp. 24–29. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43897655. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.