“Mending Wall"

For the neighbor with the “pine trees” the wall is of great significance, as it provides a sense of security and privacy. He believes that although two people can still be friendly neighbors, some form of barrier is needed to separate them and “wall in” the personal space and privacy of the individual. This is shown through his repeated saying, “good fences make good neighbors” (line 27-45). The neighbor believes that a fence is needed to separate everything because that is how it has always been, and that is what he was taught.
Behind the literal representation of building walls, there is a deeper metaphoric meaning, which reflects people's attitudes towards others. It reflects the social barriers people build, to provide a sense of personal security and comfort, in the belief that barriers are a source of protection, which will make people less vulnerable to their fears.