What do the birds signify/mean in “The Birds?” Why do they attack? How do they time their attacks? Who do
they attack? What “draws them in” to attack humans? Why do they leave? Below are four theories we have
discussed (or are discussed in the Robin Wood reading of the film)–in our attempts to answer the above
questions. Specifically, here is WHAT you need to do to get your bonus points: Take one of the concepts below
and develop it further. Explain why you feel the idea you chose best answers our bird-attack-related questions.
Make sure and give evidence to back it up! [7 points]
1] The “Day of Judgement” is at hand.The value of life itself may be in trial. Mitch’s mother tries to organize
household dishes even before the almost-final attack. Is this a useless gesture? Why do daily routines mater if
life is meaningless? Is life futile (and our fight for life) futile? Is there meaning to life? Is there hope for us? If
there is hope, how do we see it in the film?
2] We see lots of instances of isolation and lack of communication on the part of the townspeople (and our
primary protagonists and supporting characters) in Bodega Bay. This lack of tensions creates a tension
between these characters.Does this lack of human communication and isolation tie to the bird attacks? If so—
how? And how do we see this in the film?
3] A definite tension exists between the main female characters (and Mitch) in the film. The main female
characters are: 1] the woman who brings the lovebirds to Mitch (as a sort of joke), 2] Mitch’s mother, and 3]
Mitch’s former girlfriend, who moved to Bodega Bay to be close to him. Is this tension some sort of monstrous
irruption from the ID? Are the birds drawn to this tension? If so—how and why does this ID-based/Oedipus
situation draw them in?
4] Hitchcock mentions that the idea of complacency ties to the bird attacks. Is it possible that our complacency,
our lack of depth, our lack of compassion, and/or our failure to act on important ideas and issues has
something to do with the attacks from Mother Nature? Does the fact that we seem to consistently exhibit a
sense complacency, callousness, and carelessness have anything to do with the bird attacks? If so—how? And
how do we see this in the film?

Sample Solution