theme. There is a West Running Brook in New Hampshire and Frost saw it when he lived there between 1900 and 1912 (“American Writers” 163). Lynen says, “The thematic idea behind “West-Running Brook” is that life, whether in its most primitive form or in man himself, originates in an instinct of resistance, in a thrusting backward...” the thrusting backward losing but always gaining a little (Lynen, “The Early...” 122). The story begins as a young, newly married couple are walking by this brook and notice it’s flowing west, which is different from the other brooks flowing east toward the ocean. They know eventually the stream must turn left. This contrary flow of water can be compared to other things in nature (“American Writers” 150). The woman tells the husband she trusts him the way the brooks trusts it’s contrary’s. She’s possible referring to their faults and how they love each other no matter what. They notice an object beneath the water causes a wave to rise against the current of the water and flow east. The situation of the water humors the farmer. This backward wave against a backward brook appeals to the farmer as symbolizing life itself. The free spirited wife sees the backward wave as a human wave, waving to her letting her know it hears them. This “backward motion toward the source” is continued through the play. The married couple’s conversation turns into a friendly argument. The husband teases the wife that the water would actually wave to her. Though the husband pokes fun of his wife about the water waving there’s no harm in thinking something so beautiful might be listening to her and actually waving at her. In fact, this positive outlook on things might seem better than the husband’s honesty ( Squires 98). Finally, the loving husband and wife come to an agreement that both of their interpre...
