Thomas Hobbes Little Bird Analysis

A Hobbesian Approach to Perfection of the Human Faults

The “Little Bird” by Imogen Heap, represents the human effort to hide ugliness. Humans are attracted to beautiful things, yet they themselves are not. Humans are naturally bitter and are without morals; it is society that puts us into place. So human effort is focused on fixing themselves and their surroundings. The little bird symbolizes a metaphysical being that humanity looks towards for help.

Humanity wakes up early in the morning, and already something’s gone amiss. Outside there is a perfectly mowed lawn:

A picture perfect scene, two toned lawns are manicured

The gardens wearing haute couture

It’s hiding something, it’s trying too hard

Hiding something, it’s trying too hard (6-9).

Humanity makes sure that every little detail is perfect in their lawn, something that is rather irrelevant, and yet their own personal lives are in disarray. Humanity is trying to hide their

imperfections in a perfect lawn. Cleaning the inside of the house does not help, as ill feelings fester beneath the clean:
Day time TV lounge, a carriage clock, a mantle piece
A family wiped up, J cloth cleaned
Unsaid, festers in the throws of the sofa (11-13).
Inside everyone is relaxed and apparently happy, yet words left unspoken festers into bitterness. Just because the coach is clean does not mean the person is.
Humanity’s imperfection is not its own fault, however, many philosophers claim that humans are naturally born nasty, greedy, selfish creatures that society tries to correct.

One such theorist is Thomas Hobbes. Hobbes believed humans were naturally corrupt, and in his book Leviathan, he states, "For the laws of nature (as justice, equity, modesty, mercy, and, in sum, doing to others as we would be done to) of themselves, without the terror of some power, to cause them to be observed, are contrary to our natural passions, that carry us to partiality, pride, revenge and the like.” (3). Humans have a false sense of justice and mercy, yet they are truly motivated by man’s selfish ways. Thomas Hobbes believed that life was never intended to be perfect, infact it was a naturally imperfect hardship we were meant to endure: “Life is nasty, brutish, and short” (63). Humans were never intended to be perfect because nature isn’t perfect. Modern man has gone too far in his quest for perfection, and as a result is left corrupt and

helpless.
The bird, however, is a peculiar symbol. A metaphysical being that a human is reaching out to. The bird explains what it sees, and tries to tell humanity how it can save itself. Still, humanity does not listen, and the bird finally departs: “Little bird, Little bird, Little bird, where have you gone?” (33).
The little bird leaves, symbolizing the modern approach of deism. Like the quote “God is dead”. Humanity is too far gone for even a deity’s intervention. Humanity’s push for perfection has made it fall from grace, and now struggling to fix its many imperfections.