Ted Hughes utilizes various poetic techniques to offer insight into his perspective on an aspect of life. In “Hawk Roosting,” he portrays a hawk as a formidable leader, showcasing his fascination with powerful creatures of nature and his perception of the natural world. Nevertheless, the poem primarily depicts human concepts intertwined with the natural world, using the hawk as a symbol for human beings and their authority and influence over society. This reveals Hughes’ perspective on human society. In “Hawk Roosting,” Hughes expresses his admiration for predators in the natural world.
The power of the hawk in the natural world is revealed through the paradox of ‘Now I hold Creation in my foot’ and the use of monosyllabic language in the line ‘I kill where I please because it is all mine’. These two lines demonstrate Hughes’ belief in the hawk’s total dominance, as the paradox of ‘holding Creation’ indicates his control over everything in his world. The simplicity of the hawk’s life is expressed through the use of monosyllabic language, showcasing his ability to act freely as the sole ruler of the natural world. Hughes uses these devices to convey that the dominance exhibited by the hawk is what controls and maintains the natural world.
Metaphorically, the hawk gives us insight into Hughes’ perspective on human civilization, suggesting that humans consider themselves the most dominant beings. The phrase “I kill where I please because it is all mine” conveys our sense of entitlement over the world, as if we could commit severe crimes without facing consequences due to our power over society. The line “Now I hold Creation in my foot” is intriguing because it implies that we possess “Creation” and therefore have the authority of creators over the universe, granting us the highest level of control over life.
The text highlights the idea that the human species desires to conquer and become the ultimate leader, surpassing even the Gods of religions. It portrays Hughes’ view of human society, where our ego is inflated and exaggerated. The irony lies in a hawk expressing dominance over the world, considering that humans often consider themselves at the forefront of the animal kingdom. Nonetheless, Ted Hughes showcases the hawk’s perfection in ‘Hawk Roosting’.
The text demonstrates how Hughes portrays the pursuit of perfection in hawks through the use of language, specifically in the lines “For the one path of my flight is direct” and “Or in sleep rehearse perfect kills and eats”. These lines illustrate the hawks’ relentless drive to maintain complete dominance over others. Hughes implies that the hawk will continuously endeavor to discover innovative methods of control and subjugation in order to retain their power. This metaphor can also be applied to humans, as Hughes suggests that humans are constantly striving to enhance existing societal systems and uncover the most effective strategies for overcoming challenges.
Despite being a member of the natural world, Hughes reveals the insecurity of humans in their relentless pursuit of perfection. The phrase ‘For the one path my flight is direct’ conveys his belief that once humans conceive an idea, they are unstoppable in making it a reality. Ironically, man has dismantled the very natural world he belongs to by clearing forests and devastating habitats to construct society.
So, it is ironic and effective to see an uninterrupted vision of the natural world in a poem that metaphorically represents human power. Hughes employs poetic devices in ‘Hawk Roosting’ to express his perspective on both the natural world and its inhabitants, as well as human society. By using the hawk and its ideas as a metaphor for humans, he portrays the hawk’s extraordinary control over nature while alluding to the power that humans believe they possess over civilization. Additionally, he highlights the importance of perfection for both the hawk and humans as we continuously search for flaws within society.
