![]() ![]() ![]() The effect of du Maurier’s narrative choices-the subjective point of view, the ambiguity of the characters and surroundings-is an unsettling experience that lays the foundation for the outlandish horror that is “The Birds.” Readers must therefore gather clues from Nat’s memories and opinions to understand his life, while also following Nat’s activities and observations as the plot unfolds in real time. Details about Nat, his community, and his history emerge only as Nat thinks about them. The third-person omniscient narrator does not explain the nature of Nat’s disability or exactly when he got it, nor does the narrator immediately identify Nat’s location or the names of Nat’s family members. ![]() In “The Birds,” this character is Nat Hocken, for whom there is little exposition: He has a “war-time disability” that qualifies him to receive a pension he “did not work full-time at the farm” and, “lthough he was married with children, his was a solitary disposition he liked best to work alone” (59). ![]() Additionally, descriptions of the birds’ attacks may be unsettling for some readers.ĭu Maurier was a 20th-century British author whose novels and short stories often explore complicated themes through the lens of a single character’s personal experience (a technique showcased most famously in her 1938 novel Rebecca, which was also adapted into a film by Hitchcock). Content Warning: This short story takes place after World War II and depicts the effects of war on the central character. ![]()
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