Flight

Even if we just read into the beginning of the book, we find that Lauren, still a young girl, dreams about flight. She tries to teach herself to fly, unsuccessfully, and flies straight into the flames of a wall of fire. Although this dream covers only a part of chapter 1, I'd like to further analyze this concept of flight and what it might mean in Lauren's case. In general, flight is seen as a sort of symbol of freedom. The idea of not being bounded by what holds us to the ground symbolizes breaking free of the pressures/realities of the real world. For Lauren, I believe it symbolizes the same thing. Lauren is trying to use flight as an escape from her reality and adolescence into adulthood and independence. She could also be trying to break free from the pressures that society and her family places upon her. Going more specifically into her dream sequence, Lauren flies into fire, which could symbolize the dangers of independence, showing that freedom is a double edged sword. This calls to Icarus who is given the gift of flight but becomes careless with his newfound abilities. 

What do you all think flight symbolizes both within and outside the context of The Parable of the Sower?

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