Whenever one is startled, or caught off-guard, the innate human response is to either flee or fight. Most human brains are wired to run from danger. This runs parallel to when humans are faced with a problem or a difficult situation. Many individuals would rather run away from problems than work at resolving them. The novel “Things That Fly” by Douglas Coupland conveys the themes of Escape as well as The Human Condition in his short story by utilizing the symbols of Superman, the narrator’s messy apartment, and birds’ ability to fly.
During the course of the story, the narrator continuously refers to the individual Superman. Superman symbolizes the ability to do no wrong. “[The narrator] always liked the idea of superman because [he] always …show more content…
These emotions are the main root of most conflicts. The narrator uses birds, as well as their ability to fly as a symbolistic item in the story. The narrator claims that “birds are a miracle because they prove to [humans] that there is a finer, simpler state of being which [humanity] may strive to attain” (145). This simpler idea of life would include living with simpler interpretations of the world and not having to worry about problems created by human emotions. Next, the ability of flight that birds have connects an idea with them about complete freedom. The narrator frequently “[has] dreams where [he is] flying… [which is his] favourite dream” (147) as well as asking God to “make [him] a bird-[as] that’s all [he’s] ever wanted. This desire to fly or become a bird is used to symbolize the narrator’s desire to run away from all his human problems and be free of the pain and sadness caused by the human condition. This is that since these birds have the capability of flying wherever they please; they truly can escape. That is something that the storyteller cannot do, no matter how hard he tries. He cannot flee from his problems forever and so in turn, he must face these conflicts just as any other individual would. In summary, birds and their ability to fly symbolize the narrator’s deep desire to float away from all of his problems that he is going …show more content…
Firstly, Superman develops the themes of escape because he is deemed perfect, and is therefore free from all the sadness and misery that humans feel. Secondly, the messy apartment symbolizes the narrator’s temporary escape from his problems. He uses his parents’ house as an escape from his sadness that he feels but eventually has to return to his unsolved conflicts-being symbolized by the sloppy apartment. Finally, the narrator’s desire to fly symbolizes the wish to truly be free. The desire to escape from every problem and issue that he is currently experiencing. To finalize, humans want to flee. It’s in the human nature. But in terms of conflicts that appear in ones lives, the desire and action of escaping and running from these problems is generally not a good idea, as shown through the symbolism and thematic devices in this
During the course of the story, the narrator continuously refers to the individual Superman. Superman symbolizes the ability to do no wrong. “[The narrator] always liked the idea of superman because [he] always …show more content…
These emotions are the main root of most conflicts. The narrator uses birds, as well as their ability to fly as a symbolistic item in the story. The narrator claims that “birds are a miracle because they prove to [humans] that there is a finer, simpler state of being which [humanity] may strive to attain” (145). This simpler idea of life would include living with simpler interpretations of the world and not having to worry about problems created by human emotions. Next, the ability of flight that birds have connects an idea with them about complete freedom. The narrator frequently “[has] dreams where [he is] flying… [which is his] favourite dream” (147) as well as asking God to “make [him] a bird-[as] that’s all [he’s] ever wanted. This desire to fly or become a bird is used to symbolize the narrator’s desire to run away from all his human problems and be free of the pain and sadness caused by the human condition. This is that since these birds have the capability of flying wherever they please; they truly can escape. That is something that the storyteller cannot do, no matter how hard he tries. He cannot flee from his problems forever and so in turn, he must face these conflicts just as any other individual would. In summary, birds and their ability to fly symbolize the narrator’s deep desire to float away from all of his problems that he is going …show more content…
Firstly, Superman develops the themes of escape because he is deemed perfect, and is therefore free from all the sadness and misery that humans feel. Secondly, the messy apartment symbolizes the narrator’s temporary escape from his problems. He uses his parents’ house as an escape from his sadness that he feels but eventually has to return to his unsolved conflicts-being symbolized by the sloppy apartment. Finally, the narrator’s desire to fly symbolizes the wish to truly be free. The desire to escape from every problem and issue that he is currently experiencing. To finalize, humans want to flee. It’s in the human nature. But in terms of conflicts that appear in ones lives, the desire and action of escaping and running from these problems is generally not a good idea, as shown through the symbolism and thematic devices in this