The Rise and Fall of Daria Walker

Fly Away Home chronicles the life of Daria Walker, a quintessential "Piercy protagonist." Ascending from the working class due to her marriage, Daria's identity is intricately bound to her roles as wife and mother. She envelops herself in domesticity, reveling in the beauty of her home, her culinary prowess, and has, almost unexpectedly, claimed fame as a best-selling cookbook author with her own television show.

Cracks Beneath the Surface

Yet, as she stands on the precipice of her forty-fourth year, Daria is acutely aware of the fissures beneath her seemingly secure life. The intimacy with Ross has evaporated; her daughters are distant specters in her home. While she passionately embraces the creative side of her work, the financial aspects remain a mystery to her. Despite out-earning Ross, he dismisses her achievements with disdain, labeling her creations as "fat books." This dismissive attitude undermines any notion of a true career. Daria turns a blind eye to these ominous signs until the sudden death of her mother shatters her world. In rapid succession, Ross demands a divorce, her daughter aligns with him and his new paramour, public accusations of her involvement in his misdeeds arise, and finally, her cherished home is consumed by flames.

Reckoning with Reality

A compulsive architect of lists, Daria's life comes to a screeching halt as she confronts the stark realities around her. It is within this crucible that she emerges as an unconventional feminist, embracing the label with newfound resolve.

The Enigmatic Ross

Ross, Daria's nearly malevolent partner, is often criticized as the novel's weakest link. Rendered in vague strokes, he appears as a mere "caricature of a man in mid-life crisis." The novel leaves us wondering how this once-idealistic law student, imbued with social conscience and a loving partner, devolved into a prejudiced, middle-aged swindler. Since Daria never deciphers this enigma, neither do we.

Driven by obsessions with wealth and physical prowess, Ross perceives himself teetering on the edge of financial collapse and attempts to obliterate Daria in the fire of their shared home. Despite these actions, his true motivations remain an inscrutable mystery.

A New Beginning

Yet Piercy introduces a male character who redeems his gender in Fly Away Home. Enter Tom, Daria's new love interest, whose charm is undeniable, albeit potentially exaggerated. Despite his unrealistic allure, Tom's presence in Daria's life is a gratifying turn. Together, they forge a new "home," one that is more communal and divergent from her past. Ellen Sweet refers to this as Piercy's "scaled-down utopia," combining social consciousness with domestic bliss, offering a more subtle yet profound revolution compared to her more overtly radical works.