In "The Birds," the birds symbolize the uninhibited and unbridled power of nature. This is shown most clearly in their violent and repeated attacks on humans. In one incident, the birds attack Nat Hocken's house in the middle of the night, and Nat is forced to fight them off using a blanket:
He felt the thud of bodies, heard the fluttering of wings, but they were not yet defeated, for again and again they returned to the assault, jabbing his hands, his head, the little stabbing beaks sharp as pointed forks.
What is most terrifying about these attacks is how sudden and unexpected they are. Moreover, the human population is completely incapable of fending off the birds. The BBC news broadcasts offer little in the way of practical advice, and the government appears to have no clear strategy. To exacerbate the problem, guns do not provide an effective defense against the birds, as we see through the tragic deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Trigg.
By employing this symbol, Du Maurier sends a very bleak reminder that nature can dominate humans (and their technology) very easily.
In "The Birds" what do the birds symbolize in this story?
Many have argued over the years that the birds represent the power of nature and mankind's stubborn inability to recognize the power of nature.
Throughout the story, the characters are at the mercy not only of the birds, but also of the wind and sea. Everything seems to work in concert to attack this town. Of course, the characters try to control the situation for their own safety, but they are simply outnumbered and overpowered.
Humans are at the top of the food chain, but that often goes to our heads and we fall into the belief that we can control nature. It is not usually until some natural disaster that we are reminded that we live at nature's will. One landslide, earthquake, wildfire, or in this case, bird swarm, can throw our entire world into chaos. This story reminds readers of mankind's hubris and suggests that even small and normally non-threatening things can become a threat when they act together.
In "The Birds" what do the birds symbolize in this story?
I think that the birds represent the idea of a threatening presence that is larger than that of the human being. These threats are the ones that threaten our basic existence and we, as human beings, are unable to stop what is there. Nat cannot stop the birds. In the end, the best he can do is to be mindful of their presence, not deny it, and then seek to protect his family at every waking moment. In this light, the birds can be seen as those unavoidable forces that shadow and loom over our consciousness as human beings. The presence of these forces seem to compel individuals to pay attention and be mindful of their external or objective world. Interestingly enough, though, the response to this does not seem to be to further engage in the external world, but rather retreat to the internal. In this light, the birds function as the catalyst...
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for individuals to retreat to their internal domain in the face of overwhelming objective odds. The Cold War historical context of the work helps to bring this out in even more force in sensing the importance and the function of the birds.
What are some symbols in "The Birds" by Daphne Du Maurier?
In "The Birds," Du Maurier employs a number of symbols. Here are a few to consider:
- The gun symbolises how man underestimates the power of nature. Mr Trigg thinks that shooting the birds will be fun, for example, and will solve the problem of the birds' attacks. But, as Nat predicted, guns are powerless against them. In fact, the birds continue their attacks unabated and they kill Mr Trigg. When Nat finds Mr Trigg's body, Du Maurier draws our attention to the gun lying by his side.
- The silent radiorepresents man's helplessness in the face of nature. Early in the story, for example, the radio acts as a source of information and comfort to Nat and his family, by stating that they are not the only victims and by instructing them what to do. But once the programmes stop, it becomes clear that Nat's society is completely unable to cope with the birds' attacks. Nat and his family are, therefore, alone in their struggle to survive. The closing image of the story, in which Nat listens to the silent radio, is a poignant reminder of this.
What did the birds symbolize in The Birds By Daphne du Maurier?
The birds are something which one day are normal and benign, the next malevolent and murderous.
I don't think they directly symbolize the USSR or Russians, although the story does take place during the cold war and is very much a part of that. Perhaps what they symbolize is the dark forces which exist in the world but aren't seen that can one day turn into war and violence. They are the symbols of a world which seems peaceful from the outside, like the cold war, but where violence could break out at any time.