Essay Hawk Roosting

The personification of a hawk compared to a human in the poem “Hawk Roosting” gives a chance to reflect upon the shared qualities of the two species. Both depicted as predators with destructive, self obsessed mind­sets, both do as they please with little consideration of anything else. Which is why man’s power and ambition has and will continue to lead to destruction. Portrayed by the perspective of a hawk, Ted Hughes uses this bird of prey to depict mankind's attitude towards its surroundings in his poem “Hawk Roosting”. The hawk has an air superiority and arrogance about it, this is evidently shown multiple times throughout the poem. It sees itself as the apex predator, and is ignorant to that which it does not deem important. In the third stanza the hawk states “I kill where i please because it is all mine.” This very clearly demonstrates its arrogance and superiority which it sees itself. But is it truly superior? Perhaps it is, though it is evident that it has every intent to stay on top of its food chain, to which I refer to the quote in the final stanza “Nothing has changed since I began. My eye has permitted no change. I’m going to keep things like this.” In its mind, there is no threat, and its authority is unquestioned. But there are always elements and forces beyond one's control, to which it may seem it has chosen to stay ignorant of. Body 2: Perfection and Power
The first stanza shows the hawk to be a perfectionist, there is no margin for error, not even within it’s sleep. “Or in sleep rehearse perfect kills and eat.” Which bluntly gives the depiction of self­obsessiveness. The second stanza however focuses more on nature, how the sun, sky and the very air boosts the hawks’ feeling of power. Even though these elements of nature are beyond man's’ control, yet they seem to work to the hawks advantage, ever heightening its superiority. “Are of advantage to me; And the earth’s face upwards for my inspection.” Body 3: