by eaa1118 

 That Richard Bach’s Jonathan Livingston Seagull (New York: Avon Books, 1970) develops the theme of self-realization seems evident in the portrayal of what its main character (Jonathan) undergoes: six steps that lead towards reaching an enlightened self. These steps include: 1) taking stock of reality, 2) pursuing an alternative way to live life, 3) overcoming obstacles, 4) learning lessons, 5) receiving a mystic gift that enriches or enlarges the capacity to love, and 6) taking off towards a non-Earthly or spiritual dimension.

 Taking Stock of Reality

 The taking stock is prompted by Jonathan’s disenchantment with a life that upholds only the necessity of survival. The mere food or survival orientation of gull society, to him, involves but a dull or uninteresting, repetitive process of having to only go “from shore to food and back again” (12). The continual rounds of “diving on scraps of fish and bread” is “all so pointless” (14) to Jonathan.        

 Pursuing An Alternative

Jonathan, uncomfortable with mere prandial engagements, explores the wonders of flight.  Experimenting with and knowing some of the wonders of flight, he enthusiastically muses on “how much more there is now to living!”; instead  of only the “drab slogging forth and back to the fishing boats, there’s (now) a reason to life!” (30).   He can’t help but exclaim, “We can be free! We can learn to fly!” (30-31).  

 Overcoming Obstacles

 Jonathan’s first difficulties which he has to overcome are his lack of control when flying “at high speed” (15), as well as his parents’ and society’s admonitions. His mother wants him to just “be like the rest of the flock” and “leave low flying to the pelicans, the albatross” (13). His father tells him that he (Jonathan) must “study food, and how to get it” for, after all, “you can’t eat a glide , you know” (14). Jonathan heeds his father –but only for “the next few days” (14); realizing the drudgery of having to simply eat, he returns to his experiments with flight.