TOPIC: Marriage is like a cage, the birds outside despair to ...

'Marriage is like a cage, the birds outside despair to get in and those within despair to get out.'

Got this one from a book for learning English proverbs. It somehow confuses me with using the word 'despair' twice in this sentence, especially the first 'despair' which I think opposes to the intention of writer. Obviously he meant to say, the birds outside of the 'cage' hope/desire to get in. But why would they feel 'despair' if they want to enter the cage? It doesn't make sense, I think.
Would like to ask for your clarification! Thanks.

I think that the word that you are looking for is ‘desperate’ to describe needing or wanting something very much.

E.g. I’m desperate for a pay rise

Despair is the feeling of being in a bad situation that you cannot get out of.

E.g. I despair that I will live here for the rest of my life.



Hope this helps