The Birds Characters & Character Analysis

The Birds Characters

Jill Hocken

Jill is used to heighten the story's tension, but her character is more fully developed than that of her brother. She is quite scared of the birds throughout most of the story, especially when she sees her brother and her father's injuries. She also picks up on her parents' apprehension, which compounds her fears. However, she also exhibits a childlike resilience when, the day after the first attack, she plays with youthful unconcern, dancing" ahead of her father and "chasing the leaves" on the way to the bus. She and her brother find enjoyment during the bumpy ride home from the Trigg farm.

Johnny Hocken

Johnny, like his sister, is used to heighten the story's tension and to illustrate one of its main themes. His initial injury fills his parents with dread and compels them to do whatever they can to protect their children. He, like Jill, displays a child's resiliency.