Analysis of Ted Hughes’ “Hawk Roosting”
‘Hawk Roosting’ stands as one of the most celebrated and scrutinized poems by the esteemed English poet Ted Hughes (1930-98). First appearing in his second collection, Lupercal, in 1960, this poem is distinctive for its perspective, as it is narrated from the viewpoint of the hawk itself. This formidable bird of prey confidently proclaims its supremacy over the natural world, unapologetically acknowledging its predatory instincts and the necessity of hunting and killing to survive.
Before delving into an analysis of the poem’s key themes, let’s summarize ‘Hawk Roosting’ stanza by stanza, a work that, like many of Hughes’ masterpieces, confronts the harsh and often brutal reality of existence in nature.
Summary
The poem opens with the hawk perched high above the forest, eyes closed in a moment of stillness. In this serene state, he does not indulge in frivolous dreams but rather rehearses the art of killing, honing his skills to perfection.
The hawk expresses gratitude for the ‘high trees’ that offer him an advantageous vantage point. Here, the air is buoyant, and the sunlight is invigorating, both of which facilitate his hunt as he scans the earth below for unsuspecting prey.
He describes his feet as firmly gripping the bark of the tree branch, a reflection of his power and stability. In a nod to the religious notion of divine Creation, the hawk claims that his feet and feathers are manifestations of his own creative prowess. This assertion elevates him to the status of the ultimate achievement in the hierarchy of existence.
From his lofty perch, the hawk feels as though he commands all of Creation beneath him. When he soars into the sky, it seems as if he spins the world around him, embodying a godlike authority. His ability to kill is described with divine confidence, as he feels entitled to take the lives of any creature that crosses his path. The hawk’s perspective is straightforward: he makes no elaborate justifications for his actions, eschewing ‘sophistry’ in favor of a brutal honesty that involves tearing the heads off his prey.
This, he asserts, is the natural order of death, where the living serve as collateral damage in his wake. The hawk does not feel the need to rationalize his predatory behavior; it is simply the way of life.
The sun is said to be ‘behind’ him, a phrase rich with ambiguity. It may suggest that the hawk can see his path clearly without the sun’s glare, but it also implies that the sun, a life-giving force imbued with almost divine significance, appears to endorse the hawk’s destructive actions, standing resolutely ‘behind’ him.
Ultimately, the hawk is determined to maintain his stronghold over nature. Throughout his existence, he has witnessed no significant changes in the natural world; his sharp eye has ensured that the status quo remains intact.
Analysis
In a revealing interview with the London Magazine, Ted Hughes noted that the hawk in ‘Hawk Roosting’ had been interpreted as a symbol of fascism or a genocidal dictator. However, he clarified that his intention was to portray ‘Nature thinking. Simply Nature’ through the lens of this powerful bird.
Terry Gifford and Neil Roberts, in their critical study Ted Hughes: A Critical Study, highlight that the language in ‘Hawk Roosting’ diverges from Hughes’ other works where he tries to empathize with animals. In this poem, Hughes fully inhabits the hawk’s perspective, allowing the bird to serve as its own speaker.
This approach grants readers a hawk’s-eye view of its dominion, as opposed to a mere external description of its majestic form. The tone adopted by the hawk is detached, bordering on callousness.
Moreover, the poem’s language is notable for its cool, almost bureaucratic quality. Critics have pointed out that the hawk opens with a series of urbane, abstract Latinate terms like ‘rehearse,’ ‘convenience,’ ‘inspection,’ and ‘sophistry.’ These terms underscore the hawk’s dominion over other living beings, setting a stark tone far removed from the warmth of the natural world.
In this light, the hawk is almost godlike: perched atop the world, he surveys his domain, killing with impunity and asserting his power over life and death. His characterization of his body in relation to divine Creation further reinforces this idea, suggesting he ‘holds Creation’ within his grasp, akin to a deity capable of extinguishing life at will.
However, it is essential to recognize the implications of the title – the hawk is roosting, not actively hunting or killing at the moment depicted in the poem. This choice reflects a meditative quality, presenting the hawk as calm and composed. While the poem is undeniably laced with an air of menace, it also serves as an introspective moment for one of nature’s own creatures to contemplate its existence.
In works like ‘Pike,’ Hughes similarly illustrates how nature has persisted in its ancient form for eons. Just as the ‘aged grin’ of the pike seems eternal, so too has the hawk’s universe remained unchanged since its inception. The hawk speaks as if he is responsible for shaping the world around him, a testament to his evolutionary advantage over other creatures inhabiting the forest.
Form
‘Hawk Roosting’ is crafted in unrhymed quatrains, flowing without a fixed meter. This structure straddles the line between free verse and a more formal composition, mirroring the hawk’s poised control while also conveying his relaxed, self-assured perspective on his dominion over the natural world.