Hawk Roosting

Finally, Hughes uses animals to reflect the qualities of mankind. This can be seen best in "Hawk Roosting", which describes a hawk's egocentric nature. In his second year at university, Hughes had a revelation which led him to change his course from English to Archaeology and Anthropology; leading him to study human nature in many forms. This can be seen through this poem, which examines humanity's similarities to animals. Throughout the poem, the hawk refers to himself ("I", "my" or "mine") 21 times, foregrounding his selfishness, as everything he says is related to himself. This is a human quality, however it is important to note that, alternatively, this could just be a comment on animals, which have no sense of morality, or others, and

This reflects humanity, as we, historically, believe ourselves to be the pinnacle of creation, and so as above the rest of the animals. This also links to humanity's oppression of animals (as discussed earlier). Hughes shows the hawk to be conceited, and so is reflecting that same quality in humans. The hawk tells us that it took "The whole of Creation / To produce my foot", implying that he thinks he is what God made the world to revolve around. Hughes' use of religious ideas here also reflects the human idea of a Creator God, suggesting to readers that the hawk believes the world is so perfect due to divine intervention. However, the hawk then admits he now holds Creation in his "foot", which implies a power much greater than God, and a great amount of arrogance. The fact that is it his foot creates an air of inferiority of the rest of Creation, as the hawk holds it in the lowest part of him, and does so after it has created him. It also suggests an abuse of power, as the tables seem to have turned, and the hawk seems to have taken over everything, possibly even the place of

Sagar says that Hughes says "we are made from the earth, remember it", however this is disputable, as Hughes seems to look down upon the hawk for all of his undesirable qualities. This suggests that although in some ways we need to remember the earth that we came from, this is to avoid acting in the same way as the animals, more than to converge with their behaviours. The hawk tells us that its "manners are tearing off heads", suggesting a brutality in its nature, and an unwillingness to change that. The idea that these are "manners" implies an acceptance of this behaviour in nature, as it is a part of social etiquette. Alternatively, this could separate the hawk from humanity, as he could be seen to mock the human concept of mannerly behaviour, presenting us with the antithesis of politeness. Hughes also tells us that "no arguments assert [the hawk's] right" to act in this way, suggesting a tyranny or dictator like disposition to the bird, which we can draw parallels with in the human world. Finally, the hawk tells us that he is "going to keep things like this", suggesting a need for stasis and a lack of desire for