Symbol Analysis
This is not just any flower—Frost chose a heal-all, a blue flower that has medicinal properties. In contrast to the ugly spider, who is designed—and has designs—to kill, kill, kill, Frost gives us an image that brings beauty and life into the world. Of course, though, he can't help but give it a little twist. The heal-all isn't blue—it's white. Something has gone wrong with the flower and we are left wondering whether this is good or bad, intentional or unintentional.
- Line 2: Right away, Frost emphasizes that even though this is a pretty heal-all, it isn't the normal blue.
- Line 7: The "flower like a froth" is another sneaky image. On the one hand, it means it's light and fluffy like frosting (yum), or it's like a rabid animal foaming at the mouth (eek).
- Lines 9-10: Frost begins his questions with the flower, wondering what the flower's involvement is in this plot to kill the moth. Why is it white? He even goes out of his way to call it "innocent."