Jonathan Livingston Seagull

A detailed Summary of Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach is basically about the story of an adventurous seagull's life. It looks like a book for a grade school reading level. After you scratch beneath the surface, however, I found the book is filled with things many fourth graders probably wouldn't grasp. Such as the use of use of personification, symbolism, and didactic themes.

The story starts as a we are introduced to a young gull named Jonathan Livingston Seagull. He finds he is being oppressed by society because he finds the life of a typical seagull is disconcerting in it's inane and tedious nature. In a rebellious move he begins to teach himself to fly at very high speeds, which would be a crime the equivalent of a felony in human society.

One day while Jonathan is flying he loses control while trying to change direction and flies straight through the flock and the tyrannical elders. After many failed attempts, he is able to control himself. He begins back to the flock filled with glee and thinking, "We can lift ourselves of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can learn

One night while practicing, two seagulls, who have a bright glow about them, start to fly with Jonathan with more skill than Jonathan. Jonathan follows them to a place he thinks is heaven. He inquires about this and his instructor, who answers, "Most of us came along ever so slowly. We went from one world into another that was almost exactly like it, forgetting right away where we had come from, not caring where we were headed, living for the moment" (61). Which is a way of saying that most of us waste our lives doing tasks, and not really living. The instructor then continues by saying, "We choose our next world through what we learn in this one. Learn nothing, and the next world is the same as this one, all the same limitations and lead weights to overcome" (62).

There is a lot of teaching in the story. Chaing helps Jonathan to develop his flying skills, and then to open his mind to love, happiness, and the freedom that all gulls should experience. When Jonathan finally grasps this transcendental concept he passes it down to Fletcher, who, in turn, passes it down to another group of young gulls. The story is didactic, it deals with teaching and knowledge being passed down through generations of gulls. Bach is trying to tell us something also, that you should keep an open mind. All people are generally good, and it is through love that you will see the goodness of people.

Bach, Richard. Jonathan Livingston Seagull .

C.O. Burrelson. "Literary Explorer"-

Superstition is the idea that things happen depending on one's actions. "Forget about faith", said Chiang (81). Most superstitions are not true. You pick your own destiny. Jonathan believed he could achieve perfect speed. Bach's idea of the purpose of life is to achieve personal perfection. For Jonathan it was speed. "I.....I enjoy speed" said Jonathan (64). His teacher replied by saying "Per

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Approximate Word count = 1261
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English