Wild grief: an exploration of grief and wildness in Helen Macdonald’s H is for hawk
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Helen Macdonald’s H is for Hawk (2014) explores grief through the symbol of a goshawk. By analysing Macdonald’s exploration of grief, this paper argues that her narrative uses the symbol of a wild hawk as a mode of processing the disorderliness of her mourning. Readers are invited to consider the broader implications of Macdonald’s work, including how dominant animal symbols of grief may overlook the interconnectedness of human and non-human experiences. Through this analysis, the paper seeks to foster a deeper appreciation for the complexities of mourning and the need for a more inclusive approach to understanding grief in our interconnected world, aligning with the multispecies mourning framework proposed by Thom van Dooren.
Source: Mortality
Author: Samantha Trayhurn
Institution: Western Sydney University
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Funder: Australian Research Council
OpenAlex ID: W7208832711