The Cliff

by Charles Baxter

Start Free Trial

Summary

Download PDF PDF Page Citation Cite Share Link Share

On an undefined stretch of the California coast, a young boy embarks on a journey to a cliff, guided by a gruff and suspicious old man. The boy endures a litany of questions from his elder, probing into his past interactions with women, and testing his adherence to the man's teachings and expectations. The old man's demands for moral, spiritual, and emotional purity contrast sharply with his own vices, evident in his smoking, drinking, and irritable demeanor.

The Drive

As they travel, the young boy becomes increasingly curious about the old man's own devotion to "the spells"—a mysterious rite of passage that he is about to undergo. Observing the old man's incessant cough and habitual reach for his wine, the boy questions whether the old man still believes in the mystical practices he preaches. This inquiry is met with indignation, as the old man insists his body has remained untouched by moral impurity. Moreover, he asserts with a cryptic finality that he himself embodies the spells, reminding the boy that "nobody is ever pure twice."

Reaching the Cliff

Upon reaching the cliff's edge, the old man instructs the boy to remove his shoes and sweatshirt, then draw a circle in the dirt with his feet. Despite the absence of real dirt, the boy complies, tracing an imaginary boundary around himself in the dust. He then recites phrases imparted by the old man, casting his voice towards the distant horizon. With a swig from his bottle, the old man hands the boy a rope, letting it out slowly as the boy begins his descent down the steep cliffside.

The Leap

In this moment of suspension, the boy entertains the idea of "swooping toward the cliffs." This phrase carries an ambiguity—suggesting either a metaphorical flight or a literal one—as he appears to glide and dip above the old man below. Yet, even as these thoughts fill his mind, he senses a disconnect between this kind of soaring and his true desires. His longing is for a more grounded freedom, "to fly low, near the ground, in the cities, speeding in smooth arcs between the buildings, late at night."

Understanding Flight

Grinning down at the old man, the boy considers the elder's forgotten pursuit of flying for "dirty purposes." He begins to understand that his own aspirations diverge significantly from those of his mentor. The old man's intention seems rooted in the past, a yearning for something that the boy feels does not align with his own vision of flight, one that is unconfined by the boundaries of the cliff or the old man's expectations.

Concluding Reflections

The narrative leaves one pondering the nature of purity, belief, and the pursuit of freedom. The boy's journey to the cliff and his interactions with the old man illuminate the contrasts between youthful optimism and the weight of experience. As the boy envisions his own path, it becomes clear that his definition of flight involves carving his own path, separate from the mystical traditions of the past.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Next

Themes

Loading...