The conflict in Robert Frost’s poem “Mending Wall” revolves around the differing perspectives of the two neighbors who come together each spring to repair the stone wall that separates their properties. One neighbor believes that “Good fences make good neighbors,” suggesting that boundaries are necessary for maintaining healthy relationships. The other neighbor, who is also the narrator, questions the necessity of the wall, asking, “Why do they make good neighbors?” and pointing out that there are no cows to contain, only apple and pine trees that are unlikely to cross the boundary.
This conflict highlights a deeper philosophical divide. The neighbor who insists on maintaining the wall represents tradition and the status quo, valuing the separation and order that the wall provides. On the other hand, the narrator represents a more progressive and questioning attitude, challenging the need for such barriers and suggesting that they may be unnecessary or even harmful. This tension between tradition and change, separation and unity, is at the heart of the poem’s conflict.