Chapter hawk-roosting: Hawk Roosting | Long Questions

In the beginning of the poem, the hawk acknowledges that it took the 'whole of Creation' to produce its intricate features, like its feet and feathers. This suggests a long process of evolution or divine effort. However, the relationship quickly shifts from the hawk being a product of Creation to the hawk becoming the master of it. The hawk claims, 'Now I hold Creation in my foot,' which implies that the creator has been surpassed by the creation. The bird believes it has the power to 'revolve it all slowly' or destroy it at will. This evolution reflects a theme of supreme ego where the individual sees itself as greater than the forces that brought it into existence. It shows the hawk’s belief that the world exists only to serve its predatory instincts, turning the natural order upside down.

The setting of the poem is crucial because it provides the physical evidence for the hawk’s superiority. The hawk is positioned at the 'top of the wood,' which is a literal and metaphorical height. This high vantage point allows it to look down at 'the earth's face,' making the world seem small and subject to the hawk's 'inspection.' The 'high trees' provide convenience, the 'air's buoyancy' offers support, and the 'sun's ray' acts as a spotlight for its activities. Even the sun is described as being 'behind' the hawk, suggesting that nature itself is acting as an ally or a servant to the bird’s power. These elements work together to create an environment where the hawk feels entirely in control. The setting reinforces the hawk’s identity as a predator that owns the space it occupies without any competition.

The final stanza of the poem focuses heavily on the idea of permanence and the hawk's refusal to allow any change. The hawk states, 'Nothing has changed since I began,' suggesting that its reign of power is eternal and unchanging. This reflects the hawk's absolute satisfaction with its position in the world. By saying 'My eye has permitted no change,' the bird claims responsibility for this stability, as if its very gaze controls the flow of time and evolution. This resistance to change is a hallmark of a tyrannical mindset that wishes to keep things exactly as they are to maintain control. For the hawk, change would mean a loss of dominance or a shift in the perfect order it has established. Therefore, it ends the poem with a firm declaration: 'I am going to keep things like this,' highlighting its desire for an eternal status quo.