Hatred In Phyllis Mcginley's Fire And Ice

There is conflict in the world; there has been since the beginning of time, and will last until the end. Without opposing opinions to challenge theories, knowledge would never grow or expand. Sometimes, this disagreement escalates to a point that is destructive towards both parties. Using the power of hatred is popular in society. Also, it is a force that is easy to hide behind. Hatred can take over people’s outlook on life, and negatively alter the way in which they treat others. Both “Without a Cloak” by Phyllis McGinley and “Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost explore the adverse consequences of hatred and prove that it is powerful enough to consume people in a negative way. Hate is a powerful force that can be expressed through either lack of passion, or extremeness of it, so much so that it consumes and blinds people. In “Without a Cloak”, Phyllis McGinley describes hate as, “Snug, colorful, the proper weight/For comfort in an icy season.” The cloak of hate that the narrator speaks of seems to fit the wearer and guard them from the coldness of the world around them, which could come from other people who wear their own cloaks. Frost’s poem portrays the idea that the hatred in which comes from wearing these cloaks will ultimately lead to destruction in the world. Hatred can be a comforting
force, though not healthy. It protects from the elements of other’s emotions, but can be detrimental to one’s own health. Some people such as the narrator don’t naturally wear the cloak, so it doesn’t suit them well. The world uses hatred in ways that resemble coldness and ice, but also passion and fire. Both prove to have equally powerful consequences in disrupting the world and human relationships. To the people that use hatred and its many powers to combat the coldness in the world, it also has negative effects. It confines the wearer, which leaves them close-minded. With closed mind comes lack of hope toward the future, because they know that they will be able to withstand the coldness of their current situation. Frost explains that hatred tends to come from desire of some sort, and that too much of it can harm the world. McGinley’s “Without a Cloak” and Frost’s “Fire and Ice” explore the varying effects of hatred and their impacts on people experiencing it.
Within society and social interaction, hatred is a popular method that is used by many as protection. This powerful force can be used as comfort from the harsh conditions that one may face without this shield in place, but it hurts the user in other ways. It breaks down and confines the wearers, which will eventually break down and confine the world. It is up to those who will combat hatred and fight through the harshness of the world to find other methods that will unite the people instead of separating them and creating
unhappiness.