The Pheasant Symbol Analysis

In Little Britches, the pheasant symbolizes moral ambiguity, particularly in relation to the law. When Ralph first receives his steel trap, he accidentally catches a pheasant, which are illegal game in Colorado. Fearing punishment, he initially lies about it to his parents, but soon confesses. As punishment, Ralph’s father has him report his crime to the sheriff in Littletown, who laughs off the crime, claiming its only illegal to shoot a pheasant, not to accidentally trap one. Armed with this information, Ralph sets another trap, this time purposefully targeting the pheasants that have been eating his family’s bean crop. When he catches one, his parents debate the ethics of Ralph’s decision, with his father suggesting that his actions go against the spirit of the law and his mother arguing, more practically, for the meat the pheasant provides. Ultimately, Ralph’s father concedes, and Ralph continues catching pheasants, providing food for his family, and protecting their crop. This incident underscores the ambiguities that can exist in the law and the moral balancing act such ambiguities create. Though continuing to catch the pheasants goes against the spirit of the law, it also puts food on the table for Ralph’s family. In this way, the pheasant represents a moral situation with no clear right or wrong answer.