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asked:
I must have missed something, what was the significance of her buying a bird at the end? The night that Bobby was nursing that bird back to-health?
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The Night Swim,
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Jen
I wonder if it's meant to be symbolic? Just like the bird, the girls in this book were expected to act/behave in a certain way and were "caged in" by societal expectations and norms, not allowed to speak up or be their true selves and unable to defend themselves. So Rachel rescuing the bird is symbolic for helping the girls break out of this symbolic cage, which in a way the conviction of the rapist and the uncovering of the truth about Jenny kickstarted.
Jennifer
I think Jen's answer is the best. But I think it goes further than that. The bird was essentially being abused and it had no means of escape, it was essentially trapped by its abusers. Just like Jenny was. Everyone thought they were treating it well, giving it what it wanted and expected the bird to be grateful/sing, when they had no idea and didn't even consider what it might want, sort of like the thorny consent issue in sexual offences. I hope Rachel let the bird be free, not just swap one form of imprisonment for another.
Lisa Costanzo
I just took it as she was tired of people bothering the thing so she rescued it?
Chelsea
I think given Bobby's gentle rehabilitation of the seagull on the beach, the bird should have ended up with him over Rachel!
David Homer
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Shirley Mytnowych
I totally agree that there was symbolism in rescuing the bird at the end! Being imprisoned and expected to behave in a certain way based on what you appear to be, for the selfish pleasure of others.
Marissa
Like so much of the book, it seemed to be just one more random thing thrown in there...
☮Karen
I think Jen's answer nailed it!
Alyssa
I'm so glad you asked this because I was so confused too!
Sherry
Jen, excellent observation.
Gail Cunningham
I was thinking it symbolized the people in the book who regretted either mistreating someone or not stopping others from doing that. She finally got tired of people harassing the bird, so she rescued it.
Mike
I think she was just sick of people tapping on the cage and trying to get it to sing, so she took it home with her.
Lisa
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