The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly

An allegory imparts moral or political messaging within a narrative framework. A fable is a simple story, usually personifying animals, that conveys lessons about the human condition. Elements of both are present in Hwang’s novella, which explores the complexities of the human condition through the framework of a group of animals on a farm.

Hwang chooses to explore the self-sacrificial nature of parenthood, the importance of following one’s heart, and the insidious tendency of mankind to reject and condemn those who choose to live differently. These heady subjects are rendered more palatable (but no less powerful) through the lens of the journey of a chicken who has escaped her coop.

Sprout becomes thin and loses feathers in her efforts to raise Baby in comfort and safety; many readers may recognize this as a fable-like metaphor for the exhaustive efforts of parents to provide for their children. Although parents don’t have to worry about weasels grabbing them by the neck, this aspect of the story alludes to the immense sacrifices of time, career, money, sleep, personal projects, and time with friends and family that people make in the attempt to provide stability, love, and opportunity for their children.

Additionally, Hwang embeds a political message condemning the exclusion of minority groups based on their subversion of traditional values. However, the book explores this messaging in a less contentious way by framing it through a conservative hen wanting to protect her chicks from the allegedly harmful influence of Sprout and Baby’s blended family: The hen worries that her chicks will become confused about what’s normal and right if they see a hen raising a duckling. The framing narrative of Sprout’s journey allows Hwang to include this political messaging, which readers may liken to commentary about other biases, such as parental biases or bias against transgender youths.

Despite the animals’ criticism, Sprout continues to live in a way that feels true to her. Hwang inspires readers to ignore the pressure to conform (which is present in many levels of society) and to follow Sprout’s example of living in a way that feels authentic. Through Sprout, Hwang suggests that although the path of individuality may lead to condemnation and rejection from those entrenched in orthodox thinking, following one’s heart toward one’s truth leads to immense fulfillment, freedom, and love.

Through the characterization of the weasel, which shifts dramatically throughout the course of the novella, Hwang suggests that hatred often stems from misunderstanding. Sprout views the weasel, who kills her friends and threatens her life, as a terrifying antagonist. However, once Sprout takes the time to talk to the weasel about why she hunts, Sprout learns that the weasel is motivated by the same things that motivate Sprout: a desire to stay alive and to care for her babies. Hwang suggests that our assumptions about others contribute to baseless hatred and that curiosity and empathy is the path to finding connection and common ground.