Hurry Hurry Case

In the short story ‘Hurry, Hurry’ by Ethel Wilson, the symbol of birds reflects women’s vulnerability. At beginning of the story, Miriam is shown to be carefree during her walk in the forest. This peaceful scene is interrupted with the alarming imagine of the wounded and dying hawk. Immediately following is a man who warns Miriam of a cougar sighting. Miriam’s mod is drastically altered as she becomes afraid faced with the possibility of fatal danger. The birds of the story symbolize Miriam’s transition from feelings of being safe and joyful to suddenly aware of her vulnerability as a woman.

The birds symbolize Miriam’s carefree nature and being able to walk freely and alone. During these moments the blackbirds are joyful and sweet. The birds are isolated but the focus is on birds chriping. Miriam is also isolated but happy, although she is alone, she experiences feeling of safety.

The dead hawk reflects women’s vulnerability and Miriam’s uneasy sense of awareness. Miriam’s first encounter with the dying hawk instils a new feeling of nervousness. Despite being a powerful creature of flight, the hawk is vulnerable to falling. This parallels the plight women face in the world. The hawk’s watching eyes parallels the lonely death the murdered woman experienced. Seeing this, Miriam is forced to realize the reality of gender- based violence that our world faces today. This is shown in the short story when Miriam's first ecounter with the hawk instills a feeling of nervousness that she hasn’t felt before. Emotions begin to complicate, not only anxiety but also fear. The strange