A Bright Forever
Uploaded by CaseyP on Aug 09, 2016
Outline
I. Introduction: A Bright Forever
a. Provides an overview of the novel and a brief description of what the story is all about.
b. Also gives an overview of the plot and the element of blame game and consciousness that Mackey’s family members have as well as other people attached to folks.
c. The main thesis of the paper is to explore the symbolism of the birds in the novel and why the author uses the birds in the storyline.
II. Hawks are used in the novel as a symbolism of the human nature.
a. Hawks are used by the author in the novel, symbolically represent the human predators.
b. Hawks are natural predators, a feature that makes them prey on other smaller creatures for survival.
c. Henry Dee is a is presented as a predator by the fact that he falls in love with his student, Katie Mackey in secretly
d. Just like an hawk, Henry watches and waits for the right moment to make his move.
e. Henry sneaks like a hawk to Katie’s bedroom during the tuition session to get some of her hair.
III. Katie represents the purple martins birds which are lovely and colorful.
a. Purple martins birds exist in colonies and build their nests high up in the posts.
b. Just like the purple martins birds, Katie is from an affluent family, high up in the social ladder.
c. Just as the purple martins birds, she is beautiful and innocent.
d. Katie’s love for music and life full of joy is likened to Purple martins is fond of making sweet melodies.
IV. Clare, Henry Dee’s neighbor is also fond of the birds.
a. Clare can be likened with the purple Martins due to her character.
b. Just as the purple martins prefer to live in colonies, Clare needs a lonely life after the death of her husband.
c. Clare enjoys the company of Raymond and decided to overlook his dark past.
V. Raymond is seen as a hawk.
a. Raymond is struggling with drug abuse and is a know-it-all kind of a person and is disliked by many people. He is seen as a hawk.
b. Just as a hawk preying on the lonely Clare.
VI. Conclusion
a. Symbolism of birds in the novel brings out the true nature of the characters involved.
b. Purple martins and the hawks represent two opposing nature of human beings.
Symbolism of Birds in a Bright Forever
A Bright Forever is a novel by renowned author, Lee Martin. The novel is based on the settings of Indiana in the 1970s (Martin 7). The novel revolves around the disappearance and death of Katie Mackey, daughter of a...