How does the author use symbolism in the novel, Birds Without Wings?

In the novel, birds are a motif that represent a general notion of freedom. However, the symbolism behind the recurrence of birds extends beyond a basic understand of freedom, as the motif encompasses themes on war, religion, love, and death. Birds are such a crucial symbol in understanding the novel’s underlying messages, that the title begins the novel on the theme of birds, while the epilogue ends it on this motif. Karatavuk ends the novel with his letter to Mehmetçik, as he says, “You and I once fancied ourselves as birds… but the truth is that we were birds without wings” (550). Thus, birds do not only symbolize general freedom, but are a symbol of all of humanity and the freedom that struggle to obtain.