The Grand Designer

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Design

I found a dimpled spider, fat and white,
On a white heal-all, holding up a moth
Like a white piece of rigid satin cloth --
Assorted characters of death and blight
Mixed ready to begin the morning right,
Like the ingredients of a witches' broth --
A snow-drop spider, a flower like a froth,
And dead wings carried like a paper kite.

What had that flower to do with being white,
The wayside blue and innocent heal-all?
What brought the kindred spider to that height,
Then steered the white moth thither in the night?
What but design of darkness to appall?--
If design govern in a thing so small. 

Robert Frost

The Grand Designer  (Written in Sep 2012)

In the modern sonnet "Design," written by Robert Frost, we find an orderly form that contributes to the construction of an orderly purpose. Frost uses an abba rhyme scheme, and his closing two lines form a couplet. Frost constructs this poem much like the spider that carefully weaves his web in order for purpose to follow construction. He does this well through the tight parameters of the sonnet, along with his careful use of figurative language, symbolism, and imagery.

Throughout the poem, Frost careful chooses the words he uses. These are words marked with alliteration, consonance, and assonance. Upon review of these words, the reader realizes that such words are captivating. The sounds are pleasant, so the reader is drawn in much like the moth is drawn to the web. Examples of alliteration include "heal-all, holding," "mixed ready to begin the morning," "snow-drop spider, "flower like froth."  Also there are many words in lines 9 through 13 which begin with "w." Some examples of consonance include "dimpled spider,” “fat and white," and "flower to do with being white." Assonance is found in the words "like a white," "mixed ready to begin," "a snow-drop spider," "a flower like froth," and "spider to the height." The mere elegance of the sound of these words is beautiful to hear, just like the spider’s web glittering in white light is beautiful to behold.

The most reoccurring symbol is found in the word white. Usually white represents goodness and purity. It this case, white acts as a lure. Even the heal-all flower, which is usually blue and has healing effects, is white in this poem. The reader might view Frost as a fatalist in seeing his use of white and light versus darkness and night. Indeed there is ambiguity found in these symbols. But Frost is showing that there is order in things both great and small.

The profound use of imagery is largely purposeful throughout the poem. It is easy for the reader to picture the scene in his mind’s eye. The beauty of the alluring whiteness is shown in opposition to the idea of a witch’s broth. The usually blue heal-all is also white, furthering the idea of good versus evil. This concept can even be traced back to the Garden of Eden where there was found the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in opposition to the Tree of Life. There is order in the design of the universe as there is order in the design of the poem. Truly the white moth filled the measure of his creation, as did the spider. Frost’s poem “Design” shows faith and hope in the purposes of a Grand Designer as he experiences order in the world with things both great and small. On a much smaller yet magnificent scale, Frost is the grand designer as he develops order in his poem through his skillful use of poetic literary devices.