The woman who shot Roy Hobbs, Harriet Bird, immediately committed suicide after the act.
The Tragic End of Harriet Bird
In the compelling narrative of The Natural (film), the aspiring baseball talent Roy Hobbs encounters a enigmatic woman named Harriet Bird. Their encounter in Chicago culminates in a dramatic event that profoundly impacts Hobbs's future.
Harriet Bird's actions were decisive and final. After meeting Hobbs, she directly questioned his bold claim of being "the best there ever was." Upon receiving an affirmative answer from Hobbs, she proceeded to shoot him in the abdomen. Immediately following this act, Harriet Bird took her own life.
This violent incident left Roy Hobbs severely wounded, resulting in a sixteen-year hiatus from his promising baseball career. He eventually re-emerged in 1939 as a rookie for the New York Knights, a team struggling at the bottom of their league.
Key Events Surrounding the Shooting
To understand the immediate sequence of events, consider the following:
- Encounter: Roy Hobbs meets Harriet Bird in Chicago.
- Interrogation: Harriet asks Hobbs if his boast about being "the best there ever was" is true.
- Confirmation: Hobbs affirms his unparalleled talent.
- The Shooting: Harriet shoots Roy Hobbs in the abdomen.
- Harriet's Fate: Harriet Bird commits suicide.
Impact and Aftermath
The shooting incident had significant repercussions, primarily for Roy Hobbs's career trajectory. While Harriet Bird's story concludes with her suicide, Hobbs's journey continues, indelibly marked by this traumatic beginning.
| Character | Role in Event | Immediate Outcome | Long-term Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harriet Bird | The assailant | Committed suicide | Her actions tragically set the stage for Roy Hobbs's delayed, yet legendary, baseball career. |
| Roy Hobbs | The victim | Shot in the abdomen; survived | Suffered a 16-year delay in his professional baseball career, later becoming a renowned player. |
This dramatic event serves as a crucial foundational element in the story, explaining the delayed yet extraordinary start to Roy Hobbs's career.
