A Beautiful Catastrophe In Daphne Du Maurier's 'The Birds'

Nature: A Beautiful Catastrophe

Never underestimate nature for it is breathtaking, but has a dark perilous side. Nature manages to strike at the most unplanned times, it is deceitful and can cause havoc around the world in the most bizarre ways. One never quite knows when nature might strike. Daphne du Maurier exhibits a concept in her story,“The Birds” of how even the most overlooked objects in nature can cause just as much chaos as something one would expect. Daphne du Maurier uses the imagery from her story, “The Birds” to successfully have the reader foreshadow events, arouse feelings of curiosity, learn about the dangers in nature, and connect to the main character.

Daphne du Maurier utilizes imagery to foreshadow important events. Maurier foreshadows in a discreet manner, having the reader possibly not catch it the first time, thus causing the reader to have to read it multiple times to recognize all her clues. A sumptuous example of foreshadowing utilizing imagery is found when the author writes,” as the tractor traced its path up and down... the figure of the farmer

silhouetted on the driving seat the whole machine and the man upon it would be lost momentarily in the great cloud of wheeling crying birds”(Maurier 52). In this piece, Maurier mentions the wheeling and crying birds that will appear later on in the story, she gives the reader a clue of how disastrous the birds will be. She foreshadows the overlooked object that will eventually cause major destruction. This piece provides the reader with a detailed description that as a result is easily visualized and comprehended.
Maurier uses imagery to create the mood of the story by using expressive words, she also describes the hidden dangers of nature and how rapidly it can strike without one realizing it. One way Maurier affects how the reader feels is by writing obscure phrases that give the reader chills and intrigue them; she creates great curiosity among the readers.The author helps the reader recognize the mood through imagery by writing,” The sky was hard and leaden, and the brown hills that had gleamed in the sun the day before looked dark and bare. The East wind like a razor, stripped the trees, and the leaves crackling and dry shivered and scattered with the winds blast. Black winter had descended in one single night” (Maurier 55). This excerpt informs the reader how much the season has transformed and how now it is gloomy and dark. It reveals that nature can quickly change in as fast as a single night. What especially gets the reader’s attention is the use of the phrase “black winter” it provokes curiosity in the reader, consequently, leading them to wonder what it could possibly mean.
The author uses imagery to have the reader sympathize with the main character.

Humans often find that sympathizing with another person makes them feel connected. Maurier uses imagery to make the reader feel a connection with Nat, the main character. The author makes the reader feel sympathetic towards Nat when she writes,” He reached for it [cigarettes], switched on the silent wireless. He threw the empty packet on the fire, and watched it burn”(Maurier 82). By reading this the reader notices that Nat is feeling hopeless and drained. This quote is written in a way that makes the reader feel as if the reader were there, therefore, causing one to feel more compassionate towards Nat. The author ends the story with this quote, she doesn’t specifically write what Nat is thinking ,therefore, leaving it up to the reader to use the imagery provided and interpret for themselves what is

happening.
The author of “The Birds”, Daphne du Maurier uses imagery to help the reader recognize foreshadowing, cause feelings of curiosity, caution on the dangers of nature, and connect the reader to the main character. Maurier uses imagery to foreshadow major events in a concealed manner. She causes the reader to become curious and contemplate on what will happen next. Maurier also uses imagery to make the reader feel closer to the main character.. She seems to write this story as sort of a warning to caution the reader that we should not overlook anything but be prepared and take the hints that nature or the world leaves for humanity. To live in oblivion, or take warnings into consideration is a choice every human has but will humanity choose the right one?