Jealous Husband Returns in Form of Parrot

The entire story is presented through the narrator’s eyes. What would it be like to see the marriage through the former wife’s eyes? What clues in the text suggest how she viewed their marriage? Do you think the narrator’s jealousy was warranted? What textual evidence supports your position?

Is the story more of a comedy or a tragedy? Consider the narration’s tone and the nature of the story’s ending.

In fiction, a round character is a figure with psychological complexity and, often, internal contradictions that underscore their humanity. How is the narrator a round character? Look deeper than the obvious human-parrot duality.

At the end of the story, the narrator refers to himself as both a “pretty bird” and a “bad bird”—what do you think he means by this? Is this communication clear, or is the true meaning something beyond the narrator’s ability to express? Whatever your answer, address what it means for the story as a whole.

This is a story of transformation—man into parrot—akin to other stories, like Beauty and the Beast. Choose another transformation story you are familiar with. This could be a fairy tale, poem, or even a movie. Then analyze that transformation, comparing it to Butler’s.

The narrator has human feelings but also sees through a bird’s eye, as when he views his former wife naked and is struck by her lack of feathers. How does Butler balance the two aspects of the narrator’s voice? Cite specific examples of both human and bird perspectives.

As a man, the narrator wanted to spy on his wife with another man. As a parrot, when given the opportunity, he chooses not to do so. What led to this change of heart? What passages in the story help explain his choice?

The story’s title announces one of the narrator’s signature qualities: his jealousy. He claims to love his former wife but also feels possessive of her. Is this love or not? What does the story say about masculinity in relation to love, possessiveness, or jealousy?