The short story ‘The Birds’ by Daphne du Maurier ends on an unsettling and ambiguous note. The narrative concludes with the protagonist, Nat Hocken, and his family barricading themselves inside their home while the birds continue their relentless attack. The final lines capture the tension and dread of the situation, as they realize that they are surrounded and that help is nowhere in sight.
The ending emphasizes the chaos and terror that has unfolded throughout the story, leaving the reader with a sense of hopelessness. It’s not just the survival of the characters at stake but also the eerie atmosphere that haunts them and, by extension, the reader. The open-ended conclusion invites readers to ponder the fate of Nat and his family, showcasing the story’s themes of nature’s unpredictability and the fragility of human control over the environment. In essence, the story wraps up in a way that reflects the total breakdown of safety and normalcy, lingering in the mind long after it has ended.