I loved this story, for its two heroines and also for its mysterious and romantic ending. Sarah Anne's destiny seemed so determined and heavy and irreversible — almost like she was trapped underwater like the sparrows. But unlike the tiny birds, she managed to break free and embark on a magical migration, her true path.
Sparrows are common birds, so what do you think the "rare bird" of the title is?
How do you think this story works as a companion piece to the other Linnaeus story, "The English Pupil"?
3 comments:
I'm tempted to say that Catherine is the rare bird (and Barrett surely thinks it's amusing to use "bird" to refer to a woman), but the story isn't about her, so I'm not sure.
I think it's interesting that Sarah Anne notes more than once that swallows follow their food. And then she does just that herself.
I don't know how the Linnaeus stories go together. Perhaps, read together, they show that everyone has depth -- read by itself, this story doesn't have a full Linnaeus character, but read with the other story, we know just how human he is.
I had never heard this idea about swallows hibernating underwater. It seems quite ridiculous now. I assumed the "rare bird" label applied to the notion of swallows spending the winter in frozen ponds, which had it been true, certainly would've set it apart from other birds. I think it also could be a metaphor for Sarah Anne, who didn't really fit in her designated station in life.
I liked the tie-in with the other Linnaeus story. It was interesting to read references to him with that other story in the back of your mind.
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