Lydia Davis' Head, Heart: an Analysis of Complexity in Relationships

Lydia Davis' short story, "Head, Heart," explores the complex and often conflicting emotions that can arise in relationships. In this story, Davis portrays the protagonist's struggle with managing their head and heart - their rational and emotional parts - as they navigate the aftermath of a devastating loss. Through her use of language, imagery, and symbolism, Davis highlights the intricate nuances of relationships and the challenges they pose to emotional well-being.
The story's opening sentence sets the stage for the protagonist's internal conflict: "Heart weeps. Head tries to help heart." Here, Davis vividly illustrates the separation of the protagonist's head and heart, positioning them as separate entities with distinct roles and perspectives. On the one hand, the heart is portrayed as the emotional center that is consumed by grief and unable to move beyond it. On the other, the head is depicted as the rational, logical aspect that seeks to provide comfort and support to the heart. From the outset, Davis draws attention to the inherent tension between head and heart, suggesting that they can work together but also that they can conflict with one another.
Throughout the story, Davis employs imagery and symbolism to convey the intricacies of the protagonist's emotional state. For example, she uses the metaphor of the heart as an animal "inside a cage in the chest" to highlight the protagonist's feeling of being trapped by their emotions. This image reinforces the notion that emotions can be powerful and all-consuming, and that it can be difficult to control or regulate them. At the same time, the story also suggests that the head and heart can influence one another, as the protagonist's heart eventually "listened to what the head said" and began to find some solace.
Perhaps most strikingly, Davis also uses the character of a bird to symbolize the protagonist's loss. The bird is presented as a silent, yet omnipresent, symbol of the past that hovers over the protagonist's thoughts and actions. The bird is described as "resting" on the protagonist's shoulder, "picking at a black feather," and finally, "suddenly gone." This imagery is powerful in that it suggests that the memory of the loss is always present, even if it is not always visible or audible.
On a deeper level, the bird could also be interpreted as a symbol of the protagonist's own spirit or sense of self. Throughout the story, the protagonist's head and heart struggle to regain a sense of balance and harmony, reflecting the challenge of maintaining a coherent sense of self in the face of loss. The bird's disappearance at the end of the story could be seen as a metaphor for the protagonist's own struggle to find meaning and purpose in the absence of the past.
Through her use of language, imagery, and symbolism, Davis effectively conveys the complexity of emotions and relationships. "Head, Heart" is a powerful story that captures the essence of the human condition and highlights the challenges of reconciling our intellectual and emotional sides. As readers, we are left with a sense of the profound impact that loss can have on our lives and our ability to connect with others. In the end, Davis' story reminds us that it is through the struggle to reconcile head and heart that we can find healing and hope for the future.