In the poem, the staircase provides a backdrop to the scene of emotional frustration. The poem begins with the wife, Amy on top of the stairs, and the husband at the bottom which indicates the emotional gap existing between. …show more content…
She of course wouldn't believe he saw what she did, and challenged him to tell her. But, he claimed it never struck him as he had never noticed it from there before. "I must be wonted to it that's the reason." The window looked out to the family graveyard where his ancestors were buried. But the other graves there didn't matter it was "the child's mound" what she was staring at all this while. Here is the first indication that the couple has lost a child, only recently as the child's grave hasn't even been prepared properly, it's still …show more content…
Frost describes her reaction with such great imagery and detail right down to the expression on her face "turned on him with such a daunting look" it gives the reader the impression of being present in the midst of the conflict. The intimidating look was to warn him to not continue, but he persisted asking "Can't a man speak of his own child he's lost?" after all, it was his child too. But she pushed him away saying "Not you!" and wished to leave the house at once. He pleaded with her not to leave and not to "go to someone else this time" and in a gentle tone told her there was something he wished to ask her. She snapped at him, telling him he did not know how to ask it, and in an attempt to reach out to her once again, he replied "Help me,