The Symbolism of Birds in Z.Z. Packer’s The Ant of the Self
The Symbolism of Birds in Z.Z. Packer’s “The Ant of the Self”
In Western literature, birds are often used to symbolize humans. Birds’ anatomy, behavior, and perceived emotions combine to make the bird a useful symbol of humans, their thoughts, and their emotions. Z.Z. Packer adds to this list of more commonly used similarities between birds and humans by endowing the birds in her short story, “The Ant of the Self”, with the gift of speech. By doing so, Z.Z. Packer highlights her use of a squawking assortment of colorful African birds as a symbol for Spurgeon. The birds serve as a catalyst for the story, giving rise to Spurgeon’s and his father’s trip to the Million Man March. As the duo makes their way from Jasper, Indiana to Washington, D.C., Packer introduces a succession of likenesses between Spurgeon and the birds. These likenesses show the extent to which the birds function as a symbol for Spurgeon. Most importantly, however, the birds allow the reader to more intimately examine the father-son relationship between Ray Bivens Jr. and Spurgeon.
Upon Ray Bivens Jr.’s forceful capture and caging of a colorful menagerie of African birds from his ex-girlfriend’s house, similarities between Spurgeon and the birds become apparent. These similarities are not accidental, nor are they surprising. Birds are often used as a symbol for humans not only because they possess great physical and behavioral human resemblance, but also because we believe that we are able interpret their thoughts. Birds lend themselves to becoming symbols because “they seem so like us in many ways” (Mynott 282). Mynott clarifies his statement that birds are “like us” by explaining that birds “have roundish heads with two eyes in front” and engage in behavior to which we believe we can relate (282). Mynott also acknowledges that birds can be bipedal. Because of these anthropoid physical traits and relatable behaviors, we are led to believe that birds experience feelings and emotions which are
In Western literature, birds are often used to symbolize humans. Birds’ anatomy, behavior, and perceived emotions combine to make the bird a useful symbol of humans, their thoughts, and their emotions. Z.Z. Packer adds to this list of more commonly used similarities between birds and humans by endowing the birds in her short story, “The Ant of the Self”, with the gift of speech. By doing so, Z.Z. Packer highlights her use of a squawking assortment of colorful African birds as a symbol for Spurgeon. The birds serve as a catalyst for the story, giving rise to Spurgeon’s and his father’s trip to the Million Man March. As the duo makes their way from Jasper, Indiana to Washington, D.C., Packer introduces a succession of likenesses between Spurgeon and the birds. These likenesses show the extent to which the birds function as a symbol for Spurgeon. Most importantly, however, the birds allow the reader to more intimately examine the father-son relationship between Ray Bivens Jr. and Spurgeon.
Upon Ray Bivens Jr.’s forceful capture and caging of a colorful menagerie of African birds from his ex-girlfriend’s house, similarities between Spurgeon and the birds become apparent. These similarities are not accidental, nor are they surprising. Birds are often used as a symbol for humans not only because they possess great physical and behavioral human resemblance, but also because we believe that we are able interpret their thoughts. Birds lend themselves to becoming symbols because “they seem so like us in many ways” (Mynott 282). Mynott clarifies his statement that birds are “like us” by explaining that birds “have roundish heads with two eyes in front” and engage in behavior to which we believe we can relate (282). Mynott also acknowledges that birds can be bipedal. Because of these anthropoid physical traits and relatable behaviors, we are led to believe that birds experience feelings and emotions which are
Cited: Becker, Fiona and French, Lesley. “Making the Links: Child Abuse, Animal Cruelty and Domestic Violence.” Child Abuse Review 13 (2004): 399-414. Print. Chaucer, Geoffrey. “The Manciple’s Tale.” The Canterbury Tales. Modern Library Edition. New qqqqqqYork: Random House Inc. 1994. 531. Print. Lutwack, Leonard. Birds in Literature. Florida: University Press of Florida, 1994. Print. Mynott, Jeremy. Birdscapes: Birds in Our Imagination and Experience. Princeton: Princeton qqqqqUniversity Press, 2009. Print Packer, ZZ Drinking Coffee Elsewhere: Stories. New York: Penguin Group, 2003. Print