Flying Home

“Flying Home” by Ralph Ellison is a story of identity, judgment, and striving for achievement in a society that sets an entire group of people up for failure. Todd, a flight school candidate, wants to defend his country and bring pride and prosperity to his Black community. The story conveys the depth of Todd’s existential struggle in relatively few pages: Although Todd never explicitly questions the meaning of his life, the dialogue and subtext of the story imply this type of questioning. In her letter, Todd’s girlfriend poses one of the story’s central questions: For whom is Todd using his flying skills? Is it worth it for him to risk his life for an anti-Black nation?

Todd’s primary character arc is an emotional and psychological journey that sparks deep-seated memories and prompts a moment of personal transformation. His setting and physical position are static throughout the story, so his discussions with Jefferson and Teddy (and the thoughts and feelings they evoke) are the only events that move the plot forward. Todd’s pain is also a significant factor in both the plot and character aspects of the story. His pain both makes him intensely focused on the moment and, at times, incapacitates him so that he is no longer in control of his thoughts and feelings. These moments prove transformational because Todd no longer has his analytical mind to shield him from his emotional distress.

As a pilot, Todd embodies an aspirational archetype, highlighting the theme of Opportunity and the American Dream. In modern and classic literature, flying is often a symbol of freedom, escape, and transcendence. The act of flying represents liberation from constraints, whether physical, societal, or psychological. Todd’s inner struggle mirrors this desire. He wants to break free from his oppressive circumstances, and he became a pilot to explore new horizons and transcend his earthly limitations. His crash symbolizes his inability to accomplish these dreams, and, ironically, it is his passion and youthful exuberance that cause him to make unwise decisions during his first flight.

The symbolism of Jefferson’s story mirrors that of Icarus, a character from Greek mythology. In the myth, Icarus is a young man who, along with his father, Daedalus, attempts to escape imprisonment by fashioning wings made of feathers and wax. Despite warnings to avoid flying too close to the sun, Icarus becomes intoxicated by the freedom of flight and soars too close to its scorching rays. The heat melts the wax, causing his wings to disintegrate, and he plummets to his demise.

Several aspects of Todd’s crash mirror Icarus’ descent. His youth, his desire to break free, and the buzzard that collides with his windshield all resonate with the specific details of the Greek myth. The myth of Icarus is a cautionary tale about the perils of hubris and recklessness, illustrating the consequences of overreaching. Todd’s story has the added layer of his struggle with Black Identity and Stereotypes as well as his Fear of Judgment. These elements separate his story from the myth and contextualize it firmly within the African American experience.

In the end, Todd realizes that his only allies in the situation are Jefferson and Teddy. He regrets looking down on them, realizing that they are all equally victims of a racist society. As Jefferson and Teddy help him back to the airfield, Todd feels better about his situation. He is no longer isolated but has found his place in society with other people like him. Despite the white landowner Dabney Graves’s actions and the fate that awaits him at the airfield, Todd finally feels at peace with his life and his decisions.