Owls in the Family

The owl is employed as a symbol in many different cultures. Typically, it is representative of wisdom, and the owls in this story are no different, although their particular brand of wisdom differs substantially from the imagery common to literature and mythology. The owls’ own knowledge and sagacity within the context of the story is most aptly found in the various ways through which their actions offer valuable lessons to Billy as he grows and matures during the three years that they all spend together.

Within Owls in the Family, both of the owls are given a nontraditional start to life. Unlike owls raised in the wild, they do not have their biological parents to live with and learn from. Yet despite this handicap, the owls both seem to manage their lives by remaining true to their own preferences, thus displaying an innate inner wisdom that translates into their everyday actions and even conveys an abstract sense of what their personal philosophies might be. For example, Weeps avoids conflicts, almost universally refusing to risk entering unpredictable situations and remaining “grounded” in a flightless life in and around Billy’s home.