Flaubert's Parrot

Of all the symbols and motifs present in the text, the titular parrot is perhaps the most important. While the title refers to a singular—Flaubert’s parrot—the existence of multiple stuffed parrots in the novel communicates the ideological premise of the text: When examining the past, there is no way to discern a single objective truth. Thus, there is no way to determine which of the parrots is the one that sat on Flaubert’s desk while he wrote his novel.

The novel not only uses stuffed parrots as props but also provides an etymological examination of the word: “Parrot” is the name of a property associated with Flaubert’s life, and it is the animal that reminds Louise of Flaubert. Moreover, the text suggests that perhaps Flaubert is best understood through his relationships with parrots. This concept seems to cross Geoffrey’s mind when he first discovers the parrot in the museum, as he hopes this object will grant him entry into the world of Flaubert academia. Geoffrey imagines writing the “parrot biography” and demonstrating all the ways in which parrots came to define Flaubert’s life. Given the indefiniteness of objective truth, using parrots as a