The songbird is a motif that loosely supports the overarching themes of Breaking Cycles of Violence and The Tension between Tyranny and Compassionate Leadership. The word and image of the songbird are used as a nickname and referential symbol for Livia. According to the tale that she reads to Erik when they are children, the songbird is meant to play the role of an unsuspecting victim who is lured in by the serpent’s empty promises. This dynamic echoes the way that Livia falls prey to Erik’s deceit during their first encounter as adults. However, in the context of the tale’s revised iteration, the songbird becomes a symbol of stereotypical resistance and hope, given that Livia’s version of the tale rewards the bird with a happily-ever-after future after it trusts in the words of its natural predator, the serpent. Although the narrative’s conclusion signals additional challenges for Livia in her relationship with Erik, Andrews implies that the revised version of the songbird’s meaning will win out and that the protagonists will eventually reach a “happily-ever-after” conclusion. The image of the songbird also aligns with the swallow necklace that Livia gifted Erik when they were children. Although swallows are not known for their singing, this image nevertheless carries a similar meaning to the songbird: that Erik, too, will defy stereotypes, break free from the confines of his inherited station, and join Livia in proverbial flight toward a loving relationship. By association, therefore, the swallow represents the meaning of freedom and self-actualization, and Andrews implies that this is Erik’s ultimate goal, especially when he openly admits that he would “give up half [his] palace to get this [the swallow necklace] back [when it was stolen] (54)”—well before he even encounters Livia as an adult.