Throughout most of modern literature, we run across the recurring theme of man's and woman's search for their personal
identity. Very often, the protagonists in these novels are artists who must struggle to find their way in a world that is indifferent to their cause. Such characters are portrayed as unconventional and
nontraditional. They don't fit into society's preconceived notions of what men and women are suppose to be like. In many great literary works, authors use a bird motif to explore issues related to personal
identity and freedom of expression.For example, Willa Cather's The Song of the Lark is a coming of age story about Thea Kronborg, a young aspiring singer. Thea's journey to
artistic success is akin to the experience of the lark who must fly and sing. In Thea's case, her passion for music brims over and she must pour forth her heart in song. She struggles to break free from her
Midwest roots and yearns for artistic achievement. Through her experiences, we see Thea as a woman whose quest is to find a place for herself in the world. Cather uses the familiar symbol of a bird to carry the
idea of escape and freedom, of soaring above the mundane and commonplace. Thea's bird is the lark, whose voice is the sweetest and whose song is the clearest.
Another fine example of the bird motif can be found in James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Joyce dedicates the entire novel to Stephen Dedalus' attempt to escape the labyrinth that is
Dublin and to fly to freedom. Joyce incorporates many references to birds and flight, injecting the myth of Daedalus into the hero's quest for identity.
Kate Chopin, writing slightly before Cather, also employs bird imagery in The Awakening. Edna Pointellier, a 29-year-old matron, is trying to come to grips with the reality of her life. She faces a
raucous caged parrot that screeches, "Get Out! Get out!" Only when Edna reaches an understanding of herself and her life does she leave her husband's home and escape to her "pigeon house" where she can fly free.
Given the prevalence of the bird motif in literature, many class assignments may be structured around exploring its usage. Below are some suggested activities:
1. Ask students to compare and contrast The Song of the Lark with A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by:
- Focusing on the theme of the struggle of the artist in society
- Documenting references to birds as they read. They should note the following:
- What type of birds does the author reference?
- Do the various species have a particular connotation or meaning?
(e.g., dove = peace)
- How frequently are birds mentioned? In what context?
- What is the connection between the protagonist and the birds?
After giving the texts a thorough scrutiny, students are ready to formulate a thesis and write an essay comparing and contrasting the position each writer takes on the struggle of the artist in society.
(Note: Virginia Woolf's essay, "A Room of One's Own" would be helpful to give students another perspective.)
2. To examine gender issues, ask students to compare and contrast
The Song of the Lark with The Awakening through:
- Exploring woman's proscribed role in a male-dominated society by addressing the following questions:
- How do birds in the novels function in this context?
- What message do the birds seem to carry?
- What were the societal strictures placed upon women during the time of the novels?
Divide the students into small groups to organize their findings and to write a position paper on one of the novels. Ask each group to present a panel discussion of their position, bringing in both
historical and textual references to support their contentions.
(Note: Ibsen's play, A Doll's House may give students additional insights.)
