Hawk
Roosting - Ted Hughes
Introduction
Ted Hughes is a
prominent poet of 20th Century. His father was a veteran of the
First World War. He studied in Cambridge University. He married American poet
Sylvia Plath in 1956. Plath ended her life in 1963. Hughes served as Poet
Laureate from 1984 to 1998. He is called the poet of violence. He is influenced
by D.H.Lawrence and Hopkins. The poem Hawk Roosting is taken from Hughes’
second collection, Lupercal. It is
written in the form of a monologue. It expresses the ideas of the hawk which
speaks in an authoritative tone about the world.
Hawk’s
Dream
The hawk is resting on
a high tree with closed eyes. Though its eyes are closed, it is not inactive.
It thinks of the number of birds that it has killed in the past. Those birds
have fallen a prey to it without showing any resistance. It also imagines about
the birds which it would kill and eat in the future. It does not feel guilty
for killing the small birds.
Nature,
Hawk’s ally
It is very much
satisfied with its nest comfortably built at the height of the tree, from where
it can inspect the whole world and choose its prey. The natural elements like
Sun and Air, by providing light, air and warmth makes its job easier. Nature
helps it to assert its authority and nothing has changed in the universe since
its creation
Hawk’s
Physical features
It thinks about its
physical features. The creator must have taken special efforts to mould its
feet and feathers. From the nest it can fly round the world and choose its
prey, for the whole creation belongs to it. It feels proud of its strong body.
It sees itself as the pinnacle of the universe around whom everything revolves.
Conclusion
In this poem, the poet
depicts the cruelty and blood thirstiness that prevail in Nature. The poet has
expressed his unified response of admiration and horror. The poet neither
glorifies nor blames Nature but only exaggerates the power of Nature. The theme
of course is violence. It projects the bird as a deadly killing machine which
is born to kill others who are weak and meek.
