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Fire represents change, especially a violent, permanent change. Barbara Kingsolver uses this symbol to further emphasize the message of Flight Behavior. Climate change is irreversible, world-altering, and deleterious; exactly the kind of change that fire symbolizes.
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Every tree on the far mountainside was covered with trembling flame, and that, of course, was butterflies... The fire was alive, and incomprehensibly immense, an unbounded, uncountable congregation of flame-colored insects. |
The butterflies hang in clumps from every available part of the trees. Dellarobia describes the sight as a “lake of fire" on multiple occasions. Describing the monarchs as fire emphasizes the negative impact that the change of migration pattern is having on them.
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Fire represents change as in transformation as well. The events in Flight Behavior are set into motion by main character Dellarobia Turnbow. Dellarobia is the first to discover the monarchs and she plays a vital role in their survival. Her hair is as red as fire. In the very first chapter, she marches up the mountain with the intent of throwing away her good life and committing adultery. Halfway up, she comes to a screeching halt: the forest appears to be on fire. She does not learn until later that the fire is in fact million of monarch butterflies in the trees.
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Dellarobia is struck dumb by the sight, and she has the sudden conviction that she can save herself and her children. From that point on, Dellarobia goes on a journey of self-discovery by defying society, standing up for herself, and picking up her long-forgotten dreams from the dust.
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A certain feeling comes from throwing your good life away, and it is one part rapture. Or so it seemed for now, to a woman with flame-colored hair who marched uphill to meet her demise. |
Title image borrowed from getwallpapers.com