Do you need to 'dig' the same path as your parents? And what will lead to success?

    Measurements of success can vary based on different views. Others may view you as successful if you follow the path they expect or recommend. However, you may view your own personal success differently. The poem “Digging” by Seamus Heaney is a great example of this. The poem is about a man who's father and grandfather were both potato farmers. The man has a different idea of what he would like to become. The idea of success in this story is the man following his father and grandfather’s footsteps and becoming a potato farmer, but the man believes he can be successful as a writer. This poem doesn’t seem to represent shame brought on the man for not following the family legacy, yet realization from the man himself. He seems quite disappointed that he will not be following his father and grandfather, but he insists he will work hard writing when he says, “I’ll dig with it [his pen]” (31). The poem doesn’t reference the father and grandfather’s thoughts on his decision to be a writer. This makes us wonder if they would view him as less successful having not followed their paths. I resonate with this poem as I am in a similar situation. My grandfather was an engineer, my father owns an architecture/design company, and my uncle is an engineer. I am currently an engineering major. Does this mean my path is to become a type of architect, engineer or builder? And will my success be determined based on whether I follow their paths? Yes, I do have an interest in this field of study, but I wonder if I am also subconsciously afraid to veer from this path. I resonate with this poem specifically when Heaney says, “But I’ve no spade to follow men like them.” (28) because I am still trying to figure out whether I will follow their path or not. Another part of the poem that I find significant is that the writer mentioned holding a pen at both the beginning and end of the poem. I believe this signifies that even though he is not following the footsteps of his father and grandfather, he is instead using them as inspiration for his writing.