Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.

The East Wind

Du Maurier’s choice of the east wind as a harbinger of death is a nod to biblical stories that use the east wind as a symbol of God’s judgement. In the Bible, the east wind brings the locusts to Egypt as one of God’s curses upon the pharaoh. The east wind also causes the death of Job’s children. In other Bible stories, the east wind dries out plants and fruits, just as it strips the trees bare in “The Birds.” Psalm 78:26 refers to the east wind as under the control of God. These biblical allusions suggest that the birds are suddenly attacking humans at the behest of a displeased God. The east wind in “The Birds” could represent God’s judgement on humanity, whether for their arrogance, complacency, or hostility.

The Wireless

The wireless radio represents a functioning human society. When the radio is working, it connects humans across vast distances and helps society work. If there is a national emergency or a severe weather event, humans can find out from the wireless and prepare. The wireless provides news and entertainment, two luxuries of any modern and functioning society. However, when the bird attack begins in earnest, the wireless goes silent for many hours. After the final update, the wireless falls dead and transmits only static. The birds have caused societal-wide dysfunction and disarray. When the wireless breaks down, it represents the total breakdown of society.