The cryptic phrase, "The bird of Hermes is my name, eating my wings to make me tame," resonates with a chilling familiarity for fans of the *Hellsing* manga and anime. This seemingly innocuous line, often uttered with a sardonic smirk or a chilling laugh, holds a profound significance within the context of the series, particularly concerning the enigmatic Alucard, the main protagonist. Its unexpected appearance, often leading to a reaction of bewilderment similar to, "Shit. I had no idea that was a reference to something," highlights the rich tapestry of literary and mythological allusions woven into *Hellsing*'s dark, gothic narrative. Let's delve into the meaning of this phrase, its connection to Alucard's character, and its implications within the larger context of the *Hellsing Ultimate* story.
The Bird of Hermes is My Name: Eating Wings to Make Me Tame
The quote originates from a poem by William Butler Yeats titled "The Second Coming." The full relevant stanza reads:
> Turning and turning in the widening gyre
> The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
> Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
> Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
> The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
> The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
> The best lack all conviction, while the worst
> Are full of passionate intensity.
> Surely some revelation is at hand;
> Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
> The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
> When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
> Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
> A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
> A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
> Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
> Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
> The darkness drops again; but now I know
> That twenty centuries of stony sleep
> Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
> And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
> Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
While the full poem is a complex exploration of societal collapse and impending chaos, the line directly relevant to *Hellsing* is the seemingly unrelated line: "The bird of Hermes is my name, eating my wings to make me tame." This line, seemingly out of place in the apocalyptic vision, is actually a metaphor for self-limitation and the paradoxical nature of power. Hermes, the Greek messenger god, is associated with swiftness, communication, and trickery. His winged sandals symbolize his ability to traverse vast distances and deliver messages quickly. But the act of "eating his wings" suggests a deliberate self-imposed restraint, a sacrifice of speed and freedom for a sense of control or containment.
The Bird of Hermes is My Name: Eating Wings; I Am the Bird of Hermes Eating My Own Wings
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