Birds of Symbolism

In Terry Tempest Williams’ book Refuge, each chapter is titled with a different bird, and each of these birds either seen in the chapter or are mentioned in it by the characters.  Some of these birds even play a more important part then one might realize.  When looking at some of the chapters I questioned the symbolism behind the bird and whether it correlated with certain events that were taking place in that chapter.  For some of these chapters I then decided to then dive deeper into them to see how the bird used for the chapter relates to the story and I decided to go over three different birds from the book.

The first chapter I would like to discuss is Barn Swallows on pages fifty through fifty-three.  Barn swallows are a cobalt blue color with a tawny belly that are known to build cup-shaped mud nests on mainly human-made structures (Barn Swallow).  Within the end of this chapter Terry comes across a barn swallow that has gotten caught in some barbed-wire; she tries to save the bird even though she knows that it’s going to die.  She then comes to realize that, “Dying doesn’t cause suffering.  Resistance to dying does.” (Williams)  I believe this scene with the barn swallow relates back to Terry’s Mother.  Her mother ended up with cancer and had tried to resist the cancer, however even after trying to resist the cancer her mother still ends up dying.  Within this chapter the author includes quite a few scenes that show the connection between a mother and child which I believe can relate to the symbolism of the barn swallow.  Barn swallows are a symbol for protection and warmth for the home (Bird Animal Spirits).  A mother is often very protective of their child and as a mother they try to create a caring environment for their children.  Another thing about barn swallows that may relate to this chapter is the legend about the bird, “According to legend, the Barn Swallow got its forked tail because it stole fire from the gods to bring to people. An angry deity hurled a firebrand at the swallow, singeing away its middle tail feathers.” (Barn Swallow)  When reading this one of my first thoughts was that the barn swallow may have ended up suffering due to helping mankind; the bird didn’t end up dying, however it had to live on without its middle tail feathers which would cause problems for the swallow at first.  The suffering of the barn swallow losing its tail feathers could relate back to the line of dying not causing suffering.

Another chapter that I would like to discuss is the Western Tanager pages one fifty-three through one fifty-eight.  It isn’t until the end of the chapter that the western tanager is seen by Terry, “A western tanager, red, yellow, and black, flies to the low branch of a lodgepole.” (Williams)  The western tanager is an orange-red headed bird with a brilliant yellow body and coal-black wings, back, and tail; it is often described as looking like a flame (Western Tanager).  The colors of the bird can relate back to the sunset at the end of this chapter.  Sunsets can also be described as looking like a flame with its orange and red hues in the darkening sky.  A western tanager can symbolize a secure food-filled home (Bird Animal Spirits).  Within this chapter there are three main holidays mentioned, Thanksgiving, Christmas and the Fourth of July.  Holidays are a time were the family tends to get together and usually have a big meal.  Terry even goes through to cooking food to show that see could carry out the traditions.  Even though she is unsuccessful at making the food she states, “there was a warmth and closeness to the evening,” (Williams) showing how with her family she feels comfort and security. 

The last chapter that I want to go over is Screech Owls pages two seventy-one through two seventy-three.  Screech owls are superbly camouflaged birds with colors that can be grayish, brownish or reddish-brown with flecks of white on their upperparts, a breast and belly with pale dark, spidery streaks, a pale face outlined with dark arcs and bright yellow eyes (Western Screech-Owl).  Most of this chapter has owls in it.  At the beginning Mimi keeps expecting to see an owl starting a conversation between Mimi and Terry about the owls.  Terry then asks Mimi that when she dies if she can send a sign so that she will know Mimi is fine in the afterlife.  Perhaps this indicates that she wanted the owl to be this sign because later in the chapter she has what seems to be a dream like sequence that involves two screech owls.  Owls are creatures of the night who often go about unseen (Bird Animal Spirits) which allows me to believe there is a further connection between the owls and Mimi.  Owls are unseen and when Mimi passes away maybe this portrays that see may not be seen but she is still there with Terry. 

Though these three chapters the birds are not only seen or mentioned but they also can symbolize parts of the passage or share connections between the chapter and the bird.  I find it interesting to see how these birds are used throughout the book and have some sort of impact on her life.  It tends to remind me of the birds that are important in my own life such as the humming bird, great horned owl, and the bald eagle.  The humming bird is something that I enjoy with my grandmother and for me they symbolize spring.  Every year they come back around spring time and fly next to the window just to let my grandmother know that they are there so that she can put food out for them.  The great horned owl always reminds me of the summer nights by the campfire with my father since my father tended to imitate their calls to talk back to them when we heard their calls.  Bald eagles remind me of home since my father collects statues of them and our house is now filled with their presence.  Birds and other things in our environment can symbolize many things for a person in their life and I think it would be interesting to further consider why Terry Tempest Williams chose the birds she did for each chapter and what each of these birds meant to her life.

Sources:

"Barn Swallow." 2015. All About Birds. 08 03 2017. <https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barn_Swallow/lifehistory>.

"Bird Animal Spirits." 15 01 2017. Spirit Walk Ministry. 08 03 2017. <http://www.spiritwalkministry.com/spirit_guides/bird_animal_spirits>.

"Western Screech-Owl." 2015. All About Birds. 08 03 2017. <https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Screech-Owl/lifehistory>.

"Western Tanager." 2015. All About Birds. 08 03 2017. <https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Tanager/lifehistory>.

Williams, Terry Tempest. Refuge. New York: Vintage Books A Division of Random House, Inc., 1992.