Symbolism is the key to this poem. Frost very explicitly makes fire a symbol for desire, and ice a symbol for hate. This, coupled with the imagery that these symbols evoke, creates a multidimensional complexity to the poem. Because of the deeper meaning that fire and ice take on, the application and understanding of the poem is altered. While the poem still is interpreted as a warning against these behaviors in the broad scheme of the world, in concordance with the war that was occurring, it also begins to take on a more personal level. Namely, this is due to the personal connection that is shared by the creation of these symbols, with fire and desire, ice and hate. The poem is then applied to one’s everyday life, and is interpreted as a warning against vices of desire and hatred in day to day life, not just in the larger world. Therefore, by making fire and ice a symbol, and forcing the reader to consider their application to the poem and it’s broader warning, this warning is then applied to the reader’s own life, increasing the effectiveness and impact of the poem.