The Magic Finger (Symbol)
The narrator's magic finger is a symbol of her ability to seek retribution. In the case of the Greggs, she uses the finger to make them see the error of their ways. By turning them into ducks, she forces them to see that killing ducks is wrong, as they learn what it feels like to be under the constant threat of death for another's sport. By the novel's end, she shows the intention of doing the same thing to the "gun-crazy" Cooper family. While she is not fully in control of her powers at all times, the finger itself represents her strong feelings about justice and morality. It allows her to teach people important lessons about how to treat the other creatures in the world around them.
Deer (Symbol)
The narrator's reaction to the Greggs' hunting reaches a boiling point after she sees them bringing home a dead deer. The deer carcass acts as a potent reminder of the harm they are doing to the natural world. She feels that they have killed something helpless that was simply trying to exist in the world. It sets her off as she feels that they have no appreciation for animals and view them as something to kill for sport. In this way, the deer acts as a symbol of the innocence of animals.
Duck Graves (Symbol)
At the novel's end, Mrs Gregg is seen tending the grave mounds of the ducks that her husband and sons shot a few days earlier. These graves act as a reminder of the animals they killed and the irreparable damage that they did to the family of ducks. This has a particular resonance for her, as she said she hoped they wouldn't shoot her young children, but the mother duck pointed out that the Greggs shot her children without a second thought. The graves symbolize the Greggs' lingering guilt, serving as a reminder of why they cannot go back to their old ways.
Guns (Symbol)
Guns act as a symbol of violence and brutality in the novel. Mr Gregg and the boys initially enjoy hunting a great deal. They take pleasure in killing animals and making a racket in the forest. Later however, they come to see the cost of their sport and vow to destroy their guns. Mr Gregg takes a hammer to his guns at the novel's conclusion, representing his turn away from hunting to a more peaceful way of life. In this manner, the guns symbolize cruelty and violence.
Family (Motif)
Family is an important motif throughout the novel. The Greggs seek to protect their children throughout their time as ducks. They build a nest and try to find food. Their small size, and lack of familiarity with the life of a duck, make this difficult. Finally, they are confronted with the threat of their own guns and have no defense against them. Mrs Gregg begs for the lives of their children and the mother duck points out that she lost all of her children because the Greggs shot them without a second thought. This moment allows them to finally see what they have done, as the helplessness of their own children makes Mr and Mrs Gregg appreciate the cruelty of hunting and its impact on this family. The motif of family ends up being central to the story in this way.
