Ted Hughes is said to present an observation of the world of creatures which in turn confronts the behavior and existence of humanity itself. Discuss the relation to the poem "Hawk Roosting."
Ted Hughes' poetry is well known for using his observations of the world of creatures and nature in order to comment on the behavior and existence of humanity itself. 'Hawk Roosting' is an example of such a poem in which Hughes projects certain characteristics and core traits about nature, or the hawk on to mankind, in order to satirise its existence.
Ted Hughes' poem 'Hawk Roosting' on its literal level is an expression of a bird of prey, the hawk, which is sitting on a tree and meditating about its power of destruction, its ability to suppress change, and its conceited arrogance and superiority.
Ted Hughes displays the Hawk in a violent and quite egotistical manor with a raw aggression, and gruesome descriptions of killing, and power. From the very beginning of the poem Hughes asserts the bird's superiority and position at the top of the hierarchy by depicting a hawk that is sitting "in the top of the wood". The hawk has "no falsifying dream" as he already believes himself to have everything as if his dreams are already a reality, him at the top of the food chain, and again asserting his dominance and arrogance. The hawk is depicted as a cruel brutal killer who doesn't kill out of necessity but rather for sport. The hawk later goes on to say that "(his) manners are tearing off heads," as if it his primary nature to kill and dominate over whatever he pleases.
The hawk goes on to explain how everything around him such as the "high trees" and "air's buoyancy" are all made for his "advantage" or convenience. It goes onto to say that even "the earth's face upward" for his inspection and if everything is subservient to him and he dominates over all. This is an assertion of the hawks power and dominance.
The Hawk, in the poem, has been given this god-complex and that everything revolves around him as if he is the reason for everything existing. The hawk even goes so far as to say that he " hold(s) creation in (his) foot" and is able...
