Home Burial

Critics often remark on the symbolism of Frost’s title, “Home Burial.” The catalyst for the couple’s estrangement is clearly the burial of their child in the family cemetery, which comes as a consequence of the child’s death. The title also refers to the moment of estrangement in which Amy sees the husband’s physical act of digging the child’s grave as a betrayal of love. This in turn leads to Amy’s need to escape the house, which serves as her metaphoric burial of that which makes a marriage complete: trust and communication. In this way, the warmth of home is buried between the couple, and the house becomes an empty shell of what it once was.

One of the primary symbols in “Home Burial” is the small window at the top of the stairwell. Windows obviously allow someone to peer inside of a house and look upon whatever lies outside. The couple’s argument begins with what Amy sees outside the window, and whether the man sees the same thing. When Amy looks out the window, she sees the graveyard and is reminded of her child’s death—and by extension, what she views as her husband’s callous grave-digging. When the husband looks out, he recognizes that the view of the child’s fresh grave triggers Amy’s pain, but he can’t sense her feelings about his involvement.