The Boldness of Boundaries

A boundary is a dividing line. A line that is man-made or occurring in nature. There are boundaries dividing cities, humans, and what is right and wrong. In analyzing four pieces of literature, one can really see four different and defining boundaries.

While reading Robert Frost’s, “Mending Wall”, one is introduced to two neighbors and a fence acting as a boundary. However, the neighbors both feel that the boundary is unnecessary, yet the fence is re-built annually. There is no family feuding or dissention taking place in the poem. Frost repeats, “Good fences make good neighbors” twice in his piece (Frost 27, 45). Boundaries, such as fences, are set up to separate and thus distance people or objects. Ironically, an old fence has strengthened a neighborly bond throughout the years.

In Judith Ortiz Cofer’s poem, “The Game”, the audience learns of a physical boundary. Cruz, the female protagonist, has the unfortunate physical disfigurement of a humpback. She is not accepted by her family and her malady is, “…the symbol of a family’s shame” (Cofer 7). However, this physical impediment does not stop her from making a friend who is a male. Cruz and the narrator play imaginary child games such as “family.” This imagination allows Cruz to escape reality and enter the world where she accepted, praised and loved. However, all good dreams end and, “…it started getting too late to play pretend” (Cofer 41). Cruz had to unfortunately return back to her life, her callous family, and her physical boundary that hinders her acceptance, praise and most importantly love from others.

Yusef Komunyakaa gives a passionate picture of basketball in, “Slam, Dunk, & Hook.” Technical boundaries are not only found on a basketball court. There are physical boundaries when competing in a physical sport such as basketball. However, when you are participating in a sport that you love, there are “no boundaries” to the mind, body or spirit. Sometimes your mental boundary is tested when a personal tragedy occurs. “When Sonny Boy’s mama died He played nonstop all day, so hard Our blackboard splintered” (Komunyakaa 24). Yet, the boundaries are endless when you are soaring through the air and slamming an orange basketball through a hoop for an easy two points.

“The Death and Life of Great American Cities”, gives the reader a true idea of physical boundaries that separate humans in cities. These can be varying from waterfronts, railroad tracks, even college campuses. This can make a Loyola College student, such as myself, realize how much of a detriment a boundary like a university can be. Our campus is on the outskirts of an American city, and in an impoverished area. “…they also have much in common with each other—so far as their tendency to exist amid moribund or declining surroundings is concerned” (Jacobs 259). Jane Jacobs goes on to describe different boundaries and their negative effects on a city. Also, Jacobs offers ways to unite opposing sides that a boundary divides.

The hindrance of boundaries is significant. Whether it is a campus, sideline, physical deformity, or fence boundaries are ways to limit knowledge and education to people of a different background or culture. Tearing down our petty boundaries will help us excel not only individually, but as a whole society.