In the poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," what does "lovely, dark and deep" suggest?

At first glance, Frost’s poem is simple. It’s about a man going through the snowy woods and taking a moment to pause and look around. When his horse jingles his little bells, the speaker realizes he needs to move along because he still has miles yet to go. However, a closer reading suggests that there is something more happening.

There have been several interpretations of this poem, and the key seems to be in the final stanza: 

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.”

The phrase describing the woods as “lovely, dark and deep” suggests a mystery the speaker associates with the woods. The speaker does not see the woods as threatening, but by describing them as dark, there does seem to be something inexplicable about the woods. When this description of the woods is read along with the final couplet, it suggests a more serious purpose.

Some critics have written that the poem addresses the speaker’s sense of responsibility. He must stop looking at the woods and head home because he has miles to go and he has responsibilities to tend to upon his return. Another interpretation is that the speaker needs to continue moving along his journey of life before he dies (sleep referring to the final sleep or death).

Therefore, the phrase “lovely, dark, and deep” suggests that the speaker has more serious things to address, although the woods are bewitching and make him want to linger. This reflects other aspects of his life that distract him from his responsibilities or keep him from his fate.