Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Frost's poem "New Hampshire" is a satirical and reflective piece that explores themes of regional identity, pride, and the varying values across different parts of the United States. Through a series of encounters with individuals from various states, Frost humorously critiques the notion of having something to sell—whether it be commodities, climates, or ideas—and contrasts these with his own New Hampshire.

The poem begins with Frost recounting a conversation with a Southern lady: "I met a lady from the South who said / (You won't believe she said it, but she said it): / 'None of my family ever worked, or had / A thing to sell.'" The lady's pride in her family's lack of work or trade strikes Frost as peculiar. Her disdain for selling or having anything to sell is presented as a mark of disgrace. This encounter sets the stage for Frost's exploration of differing regional attitudes toward work and commerce.

Next, Frost describes meeting a traveler from Arkansas who boasts about his state's abundance of diamonds and apples: "I met a traveler from Arkansas / Who boasted of his state as beautiful / For diamonds and apples." When Frost questions the commercial quantity of these resources, the traveler naively confirms it. This exchange takes place in a Pullman car, where Frost subtly points out the irony of the traveler’s pride in natural wealth by noting the porter’s service: "I see the porter's made your bed," I told him. This line underscores the contrast between the traveler's idle boasting and the working man’s labor.

Frost then recalls an encounter with a Californian who extols the virtues of his state's climate: "I met a Californian who would / Talk California—a state so blessed, / He said, in climate, none had ever died there / A natural death." The Californian's hyperbolic claim that no one dies naturally in California, requiring Vigilance Committees to maintain graveyards, is a satirical take on the state's pride in its weather. Frost likens this to the exaggerated tales of the Arctic by explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson, suggesting that promoting a climate as a commodity leads to absurdity.

The poem shifts to an interaction with a poet from another state, a zealot who fervently advocates against the Volstead Act, which enforced Prohibition: "I met a poet from another state, / A zealot full of fluid inspiration." This poet, using poor salesmanship, tries to coerce Frost into writing a protest in verse. Frost humorously notes that the poet didn't even offer him a drink until Frost requested one to calm the poet down. This encounter highlights the poet’s overzealous and ineffective attempt to sell his idea.

Frost concludes with a pointed statement: "It never could have happened in New Hampshire." This final line emphasizes the contrast between the experiences he describes and the character of his own state. New Hampshire, by implication, is a place where such absurdities and commercial pretensions do not occur. It suggests a pride in New Hampshire's authenticity and simplicity, where values are not tied to selling commodities or grandiose claims.

"New Hampshire" is a reflection on the varying values and identities of different American regions. Through humorous and satirical encounters, Frost critiques the pride people take in having something to sell, whether it be natural resources, climate, or ideas. The poem underscores the simplicity and authenticity of New Hampshire, presenting it as a place free from the commercial pretensions and absurdities found elsewhere. Frost's witty observations and regional comparisons invite readers to consider the deeper implications of pride, work, and authenticity in their own lives and communities.

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