Reflective Post: Peace Like a River

     In "Peace Like a River", many times the subject of a bird and more specifically the death of a bird. The first is when the Land family goes to hunt geese. The goose symbolizes vigilance, parenthood, and productive power. The death of this bird is what i think foreshadows upcoming events. It shows that one day, in the book, someone in power will be laid to rest. Personally I think it is when the two town bullies get shot down by Davy Land. Sometimes power can last, but if it is being used in the wrong way, is it and should it be allowed to persist? Culturally, we take down those in power when it is being misused as in hurting those under the oppressors.
     The next situation is when Jeremiah, Reuben, and Swede are driving in the airstream and keep passing by dead birds and specifically mentioned, dead crows. Crows are the symbols of death. These harbingers of doom are said to have been given a foreshadowing of death. When on the road, it is mentioned only slightly, but holds so much meaning in the book. Personally, I don't think it only foreshadows the future, but also tells a lot about the past. Since the birds are already dead, it could possibly mean that death had already happened and now Reuben is now viewing it, but not realizing that it relates back to his life. Culturally, we think death is such a big deal even though surveys have been taken that death is not the thing we are afraid of the most. How can anything be more scarier than death? Could it be that we are so worried about the lives we live in with the distractions of everyday, that we don't even think we will die one day?