The 2018 post-apocalyptic horror thriller film Bird Box is based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Josh Malerman. Both the film and novel revolve around the premise of mysterious entities that cause people who see them to commit suicide. To avoid this fate, the protagonists in the story must navigate the outside world blindfolded. This has led to the story’s most iconic imagery of characters sensing their surroundings in blindfolds or through closed curtains and boarded up windows. So why is this story called Bird Box? Let’s explore some theories behind the significance of this intriguing title.
Theory 1: The Box of Birds in the House
One of the first clues comes early in the story when Malorie, the main protagonist played by Sandra Bullock in the movie, discovers a box of birds left behind in the house where she is staying. While the origin of this box remains a mystery, it establishes the presence of literal birds trapped in boxes. This could be symbolic of the story’s characters being metaphorically trapped and blind to the dangers around them. The birds in boxes may represent their vulnerability or powerlessness.
Theory 2: Blindfolds as Bird Boxes
The most common theory is that the title refers to the blindfolds worn by characters to shield their eyes from seeing the entities outside. In this interpretation, the blindfolds serve as metaphorical “bird boxes” keeping the characters enclosed in darkness to survive. Just as birds are enclosed in cooped boxes, limiting their sight, the characters willfully restrict their vision for protection by using any cloth at hand to cover their eyes when going outside.
| Character | Blindfold Materials |
|---|---|
| Malorie | Scarf, towel, blanket |
| Tom | Shirt |
| Greg | Curtain, coat |
| Charlie | Towel, makeshift mask |
As shown in the table above, various cloths or fabrics are improvised as “bird boxes” by the characters throughout the story. The blindfolds restrict their natural vision but protect their lives, much like actual bird boxes.
Theory 3: The River as a Bird Box
Another possible interpretation focuses on the climactic river journey. As Malorie and the children float blindly down the river, unable to see where they are headed, the boat itself serves as a “bird box” keeping them enclosed and ignorant of the dangers ahead. Like helpless birds, they can only listen for approaching rapids or obstructions, relying on instinct rather than sight. The river functions as a winding bird box guiding them to an uncertain fate.
Deeper Meanings
Beyond the literal boxes and blindfolds, the story’s title could also reference broader themes:
Confinement
The bird box metaphor points to how Malorie and the children become confined to shuttered environments or dependent on blindfolds when outside. This highlights their isolation from normal life and society’s rules after the apocalyptic event. The idea of living in darkness within boxes reinforces how the characters are detached from wider human connections, forced into a restricted existence.
Vulnerability
Birds in actual boxes or cages are totally vulnerable to whoever controls that enclosure. Likewise, Malorie and the children are highly vulnerable when blindfolded, unable to see threats around them. Their fearful reliance on sounds echoes the vulnerability of trapped birds. Malorie’s maternal protectiveness over Girl and Boy also connects to a bird’s parental instinct to guard nestlings.
Persistence Despite Disability
While blindfolded, the characters display incredible perseverance to accomplish daily tasks and avoid unseen dangers. Their navigation and survival despite an imposed disability mirrors how caged birds persist at living though their wings are clipped. On the river, Malorie paddles them onward even as they lack any vision of the destination. This persistence highlights human resilience.
Hope
Lastly, birds represent hope, from the dove’s olive branch in the Bible to caged canaries once used by miners as warnings. While confined in darkness, the characters in Bird Box maintain hopes of finding community and sanctuary. Their river voyage, though blind, sustains hope of reaching a refuge downstream. So like the caged birds carried by miners, Malorie’s children symbolize her hope for the future.
Conclusion
In summary, the title Bird Box encapsulates both the literal presence of birds in boxes and the story’s metaphorical themes of confinement, vulnerability, persistence, and hope. While theories differ on the exact significance, the title clearly reinforces the story’s dystopian premise of characters navigating a sightless world as well as its core message of maternal love and human resilience. By putting birds and boxes together, Malerman created a gripping, thought-provoking title that complements his chilling tale. The blindness and claustrophobia evoked by “bird box” immediately gives readers a sensory experience that echoes what characters endure in this frightening yet inspiring story.
