.A ROADSIDE STAND, Robert Frost-Analyse the poem as a critique of modernization.

The poem begins with a description of the roadside stand, and the intention behind it, which is for the farmer to earn some money from people passing in their cars. However, no cars stop and the people who do notice the roadside stand are critical of how it spoils the view because it is ugly, or that it is badly painted and the signs for North and South are wrongly pointed. No one notices the berries and the squash that are for sale. The farmer tells the travelers to keep their money if that's the way that they feel and points out that the view is not as hurt as he is by them ignoring him. All he wants to do is to be able to enjoy some of the things that they take for granted. Frost expands his theme by saying that 'good-doers' who want to re-locate the country people into the cities so that they can access stores and cinemas are actually doing harm because they are forcing these people to become reliant and unable to think for themselves.

 The poem continues with the poet's personal feelings of his despair at the dashed hopes of the farmer. He continues with the thought that the country people have made no progress and it might be better to put them out of their misery, but then good sense prevails and he puts himself in their position. The poem is a critique of modernization because of the meaninglessness and lack of emotion in the rich people.

They city dwellers who are supposed to be the products of modernization only show lack of concern for the products of farmers and even find fault with them. In their mad pursuit of making profit they cease to show kindness or compassion towards poor. Indeed the poor villagers are victimized by property speculators, capitalists and politicians who conspire to rob them of their native land and lure them into mesmerizing world of the cities where they cease to think and act for themselves. But the villagers do not feel oneness with city life even after they settle there. Instead they feel the hollowness of city life and face the reversal of time and work ethics. The decline of the poor, the innocent and agrarian way of life is contrasted with the unfeeling, hollow attitude of the modern. The poet tries to convey the idea that modernization diminished not only the past but the innocence of villagers.