Robert Frost Two Tramps In Mudtime?

Question

Did Robert Frost allow the two tramps in the poem Two Tramps In Mudtime to cut the wood?

Answer 1

I disagree.

He does not actually say, but implies that he kept on chopping his own wood... -that he took it as an afront that he
had no right to "play" (ie. something he was *enjoying*) at another man's work for gain...
and that " lumberjacks by trade " - "They thought all chopping was theirs of right."
In other words, they had a right to do all chopping and he must pay them.

He on the other hand felt is was his "avocation" -something he *wished* to do... It was *play* for him and therefore enjoyable.

Why pay someone to take your play time away from you?



Sort of like if a couple pro baseball players saw a kid throwing a baseball and told him he had no right to do that... They would throw the ball for him and he had to pay them...


.

Answer 2

The next-to-last stanza implies pretty strongly that he did, although the last stanza justifies his inward reluctance:

Nothing on either side was said.
They knew they had but to stay their stay
And all their logic would fill my head:
As that I had no right to play
With what was another man's work for gain.
My right might be love but theirs was need.
And where the two exist in twain
Theirs was the better right--agreed.

But yield who will to their separation,
My object in living is to unite
My avocation and my vocation
As my two eyes make one in sight.
Only where love and need are one,
And the work is play for mortal stakes,
Is the deed ever really done
For Heaven and the future's sakes.

In other words, I think he recognized their need to earn money and met it, but he wasn't entriely happy about doing so, because he enjoyed the job and found an outlet in it..

Answer 3

No, he wanted the joy of cutting the wood himself.

Answer 4

Yes, he did...

http://www.robertfrostexplained.co.uk
http://www.mudtimeexpress.com
http://www.sparknotes/frostrobert/com