The Purpose Of A Journey In 'The Layers' By Stanley Kunitz

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Life is a journey that involves many precious moments and, people one may never forget. Yet often the desire to move forward may compel an individual to depart those loved ones in hopes of pursuing their own goals and dreams. Due to the incredible aspect of the human nature which encourages success and further accomplishments, each individual must learn the capability of being able to continue on their life’s journey, with the purpose of achieving their goals. In the Poem The Layers written by Stanley Kunitz, the speaker seems to have traveled many paths yet he cannot seem to let go of his past, and as he continues to change and follow different paths he regain meaning back to his life. His attempt to share his experiences with the reader is manifested in the way he communicates the details of his journey and ideals that guide him in life and describes the love and affection he has for his loved ones. However, each individual must discover their own paths as to their own ideals to their journey, just as they would need to discover their own mistakes along the journey as well.
There are many ways in which a goal or an ideal may influence an individual’s life. It could be the mere feeling of accomplishment, and the outcome of meaning to one’s life, or simply the goals may conclude the sensation of change and retain of wisdom that appeal to individuals. Such an existence can cause the compulsion of never feeling the desire to end the journey and forever aspiring towards new goals. That is what happened to the speaker in the poem “The Layers” written by Stanley Kunitz. In an infinite journey the speaker continues to discover new paths as he looks back on his past, learning from his mistakes, it grants him the st...

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...a journey of infinite discoveries yet may be pursued alone. The second choice offers the complete renouncing of the ideal or goal, in the sake of staying close to loved ones. The speaker from the poem “The Layers” by Stanley Kunitz chose the first route, in which he sacrificed his yearning for his friends, in order to accomplish greater goals. The speaker's sense of acceptance of his own perception of ideology and the way he looks at life as it offers him endless loss and change alters his entire presence in a way that he chooses to continue on the journey of change and learning continuously. Moreover the loss of his family and friends only encourages him to move on further as he embraces the beauty of change with great optimism, finding significance and balance to his existence, which is significantly influence by his ideals and his perception of looking at life.

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