The Magic Finger

Mr. Gregg is the head of the Gregg family and a proud man who, at first, appears to be stuck in his ways. He enjoys hunting birds, particularly ducks, for the fun of it, and lacks empathy for the vulnerable. When the protagonist attempts to call attention to this problem, Mr. Gregg tells her to mind her own business. He sees nothing wrong with shooting animals for no purpose. Mr. Gregg is so absorbed in his perspective that he does not see that he is being a hypocrite when he defends his shooting of the birds: “Oh, but that’s not the same! We are allowed to shoot ducks!” (46). 

Mr. Gregg experiences notable growth and transformation after the magic finger turns him into a tiny human with bird wings, making him a dynamic character. At first, he and his family are amazed at their ability to fly and at the beauty of such a rare gift, but the joy quickly turns to terror as they realize the dangers that birds face daily, like being hunted or having their home ruined in a storm. When their house is taken over by the actual ducks, the Greggs are forced to build a nest and go through a night of rain and wind. This experience finally makes Mr. Gregg feel guilty for his actions and understand that he is essentially bullying smaller, more vulnerable creatures.

Mr. Gregg’s purpose in the story is to represent human arrogance and selfishness, as well as the failure of many people to empathize with nature or children. In the end, Mr. Gregg and his family demonstrate their growth by feeding the birds and burying those they killed respectfully. Mr. Gregg changes his name to “Mr. Egg,” symbolizing his transformation and moral growth.

William and Philip Gregg are the children in the family and, in most ways, share their parents’ behavior and beliefs. Unlike the protagonist, William and Philip do not think for themselves or question the actions of adults around them. They are energetic boys who are excited about hunting and proud to join their father in shooting ducks. Like their father, they laugh at the narrator’s concern for the animals. When they are transformed into birds, William and Philip have an unusually optimistic attitude: “‘Mama! Mama! Mama!’ chirruped Philip. ‘Look, Mama, we can fly!’” (25).

Transforming into birds quickly turns into a dark reality when the boys realize all the dangers around them. This sudden loss of safety and power is scary; they cry and worry about being attacked by cats or foxes, demonstrating their shift from the hunter to the hunted. The experience teaches them to have empathy: In the end, they show compassion for other living things and guilt for those they have hurt.