North of Boston · Theme
Tradition vs. Change
How North of Boston develops Tradition vs. Change.
Characters grapple with inherited customs and modern shifts, as in 'Mending Wall,' where the speaker questions the old adage 'Good fences make good neighbours,' and in 'The Generations of Men,' where ancestral pride is both celebrated and mocked.
Where it surfaces
- Mending Wall
The speaker challenges the necessity of the wall, while the neighbor clings to the inherited saying 'Good fences make good neighbours,' highlighting the conflict between questioning tradition and following it blindly.
- The Black Cottage
The minister's struggle over whether to alter the Creed to suit modern sensibilities, balanced against the old woman's steadfast, traditional faith.
- The Generations of Men
The cousins debate the value of ancestry and old names versus new ideals, with Granny's voice lamenting the loss of the old stock and the young man questioning the pride of lineage.