Hawks Symbol Analysis

To Danny, hawks symbolize the comforting idea of his parents protecting and watching over him. Danny remembers that in his childhood, his father loved hawks and often pointed them out. After Javier leaves the family, Danny thinks of his father whenever he sees the birds. He imagines that Javier sends hawks from Mexico to watch over him—though Danny knows this is not actually true, the sight of a hawk brings him comfort. He pretends the hawks report Danny’s successes to Javier and make him proud. Danny also has a recurring dream that he watches with joy as two parent hawks feed their baby, but the hawk family disappears and Danny can’t find them again. The hawks Danny dreams of represent his own family. Aside from wanting to make his father proud, Danny also longs to feel love and care from his parents. He feels abandoned not only by his dad but also by his mom, who—after Javier leaves—prioritizes the new men she dates instead of her children. In the dream, Danny doesn’t know where the hawks are, suggesting that part of his distress around Javier’s absence is the mystery it’s shrouded in.

Danny has a change of heart after learning that Javier is in prison, as this information finally answers the questions around Javier’s absence. Near the end of the novel, Danny looks for a hawk in the sky but doesn’t see any. He can no longer rely on the hawks for comfort, because his idea of his father as a protector and guide is shattered. Danny realizes that no matter what he does to try to impress his father, Javier will not always be watching. This is a major step in Danny’s development towards maturity and independence.