Returns as Parrot
The parrot in Robert Olen Butler’s “Jealous Husband Returns in Form of Parrot” is a symbolism of the husband. A parrot can only repeat what they have heard. In a way the husband is like this small helpless animal. He has no evidence of his wife cheating on him, “couldn’t quite put all the evidence together to speak” (237). Yet he knows and feels that she is indeed cheating on him. He just does not know how to handle it and confront her about it. When his wife starts talking about the man from shipping way too much “and right after the third time” (237), he starts getting more worked up. This ends up getting the poor husband killed and he still has no closure. He loved his wife deeply and maybe he did not want to accept the truth. Now that he is a parrot and wants to communicate he cannot. He is now realizing he wish he could say things” if I had the words, these are the things would say” (239). Would this have change the outcome of this man’s life? As a parrot and him seeing all the man in his wife’s life he is still in love with her. Not till he sees his wife’s naked body did his viewpoint of her change. He did not notice her as this beautiful person but sadness. Is this the closure the husband finally needs? I believe it is he finally gets to see his wife’s true side. He realizes he would never really be able to express himself as he wishes “I can never say what is in my heart to her” (241). He has learned to let go finally “I can fly there and think of things to do about all this. But I do not” (241). Birds are able to spread their wings and fly and be free. The husband can finally let go and become free himself, he can escape from what has been holding him for so long.