Use Of Discovery In Robert Frost's Short Film 'Be My Brother'

Discovery is a continuous and complex process. It can be evoked by curiosity or necessity and often leads to unpredictable outcomes. This process is exemplified in Robert Frost’s ballad ‘The Tuft of Flowers’ as it explores a spiritual unity among individuals. In a similar way, Genevieve Clay-Smith’s short film ‘Be My Brother’ represents an unexpected discovery of the perception of people. Frost’s poem ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’ reveals the realisation of one’s purpose, emerging through an unexpected event in the woods. Drawing parallels, George Orwell’s essay ‘Shooting an Elephant’; highlights that through confronting events such as executions, discovery can have unforeseen outcomes. These texts utilise their varying mediums to

Clay-Smith depicts a social interaction between Richard, a young man with Down syndrome and the apprehensive Amanda. Through mis-en-scene, Clay-Smith emphasises the stark social contrasts between the two characters, juxtaposing Richard costumed in dull grey pants and a brown jacket with Amanda’s business suit. Clay-Smith employs an eye-level camera shot as Richard introduces himself by extending his hand to Amanda to which she reluctantly holds his finger. Amanda’s strained interest and preconceived ideas of Richard’s character symbolises her hope to simply deal with this interaction rather than attempt to form a relationship. However, the discovery of Richard’s witty personality portrayed through his charismatic quotations of “Shakespeare… the Lion King”, transforms Amanda’s perspective of him. A close-up camera shot of Amanda’s face laughing whilst professing Richard as “very entertaining” reveals her newfound awareness of his charming personality, highlighting the unforeseen outcomes of discovery. This unpredictable relationship draws similarities to ‘The Tuft of Flowers’ where Frost’s persona believed that he must be alone “as all must be”, yet through a change in perspectives, uncovers a tacit bond with the previous labourer. Despite varying in features and

Frost’s composition ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’ epitomises the unpredictable nature of revelations as reveals an individual realising their purpose. Frost’s process of discovery begins when the persona appears to “stop… between the woods and frozen lake” to contemplate his existence, curious for a life without obligations. The process continues as the persona experiences a compelling draw towards nature, expressing “the woods” as “lovely, dark and deeply”. The use of antithesis and paradox augments the connection he feels with nature by contrasting the qualities that are used to describe their appeal. His willingness to consider the oblivion of the woods suggests that he is weary of his chores. However, when Frost anthropomorphises the persona’s horse when it asks, “if there is some mistake”, he provokes an unpredicted discovery in the persona as he realises he must go on for he has “promises to keep”. The use of repetition, and almost a mantra, that the persona has “miles to go before I sleep”, provides an insight into the persona’s fortuitous discovery, realising his purpose in life and that he must continue his journey. This revelation proves to be complex as it not only is an unexpected outcome; it emerged from the process of an unforeseen event evoked by