This page will be updated frequently throughout the rehearsal process as we discuss some more of the symbolism and how it relates to our interpretation of the play. 

---

Owls in Christianity

While owls aren't actually discussed within the Bible, their status as symbols of wisdom have had a small place in historical views on the Old Testament. Before Jesus Christ was born, some people viewed wisdom as a form of God's love (similar to Jesus as a form of God's love). Therefore, because of the owl's status as a symbol of wisdom, some viewed the owl as a symbol of God's power and love. 

However, there were also some people, particularly within Catholicism, who viewed owls as symbols of darkness and depression, or life without God's light. This was because of the owl's nocturnal nature, and their affinity for dark enclosed spaces. 



Read more:
On wisdom in the Old Testament and Judaism
On owls in historical Christianity

Owls in History, Culture, and Literature

In Greco-Roman cultures, owls were associated with luck and wisdom, and acted as one of the main symbols of the goddess Athena/Minerva. However, in Roman culture, they were also viewed as warning signs of death or war. They were often featured in mythology across both societies, most notably the myth of Persephone being taken by Hades to be his wife. 

For more on owls in mythology and culture: 
Greek and Roman mythology, and English Folklore
​Assorted cultures


Owls have been used as pivotal images in a number of major works, including Winnie the Pooh and Harry Potter. They are often used to reference wisdom and as a symbol of the night.

For more on owls in literature: 
A list of famous and effecting portrayals of owls
Some guy's thoughts on owls in literature, TV, and film
Sylvia Plath's poem "Owl"

Stigmata

A term that refers to the wounds Christ received when he was crucified. These wounds include the holes in his hands/wrists and in his feet, and the hole in his side.
There are a small number of people, nearly all Catholics, who inflict the wounds upon themselves to "draw and unite the chosen individual into a special union with Jesus in His passion". These people are known as stigmatists.

For more information on stigmata and stigmatists:
Wikipedia
​Mystics of the Church (mainly on stigmatists and the history of the practice)

---