Hawk Roosting - Ted Hughes

 

Hawk Roosting  - Ted Hughes

Introduction

Ted Hughes is a prominent poet of 20^th 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.