The quote describes a scene where chickens are depicted with lively, almost anxious behavior, specifically highlighting their tail feathers and incessant crowing. This portrayal suggests that the chickens may feel a sense of impatience, indicating a deeper awareness of time. However, the narrator reflects on the nature of chickens, suggesting that despite this apparent impatience, they are ultimately existential creatures, focused on their immediate existence rather than temporal concerns.
This juxtaposition between the chickens' behavior and the idea of existentialism raises questions about animal consciousness. While the chickens exhibit lively traits that could resemble impatience, the narrator points out that they do not truly grasp the concept of time as humans do. This insight into the nature of birds, particularly chickens, serves to highlight the difference between human perception of time and the instinctual existence of animals, reinforcing the complexities of life in the animal kingdom.