Exploring Piercy's Prose

Jane O'Reilly, a perceptive critic, describes Piercy's writing as "relentlessly accurate," with characters whose earnestness bleeds even into their humor, revealing inner lives steeped in "obsessive list-making." This precisely captures the essence of Fly Away Home. The story weaves through a third-person, limited omniscient lens, focused entirely on Daria. Although the narrative is peppered with lively dialogue, the single perspective remains unaltered. Some critics argue this narrow viewpoint curtails full character development for anyone other than Daria, branding its very "limitation" as a flaw. Conversely, others argue it heightens suspense, drawing readers into the mystery alongside Daria.

Daria's Quest and Metaphoric Transformations

Throughout the novel, Daria's frequent introspection propels the plot forward, adopting a detective-like style. Her journey is marked by metaphoric dualities: the cycle of ashes to rebirth, the contrast between parking lots and gardens, and the elements of fire meeting earth. Even though the themes of Fly Away Home are grave, the mood remains "translucent and affirmative," as Sweet observes. Ultimately, Susan Mernit highlights that this "rich and entertaining book" invites us to perceive ourselves as part of a wider social fabric beyond the confines of the nuclear family. However, she notes, "Piercy's zeal" to impart life lessons can burden her prose; her intent to convey specific societal insights sometimes disrupts the story's natural flow. While Piercy's knack for vivid and sensual imagery dazzles, at times, her character dialogues feel contrived. Despite her linguistic flair, it occasionally flickers rather than flows continuously.

Undoubtedly, this author is well-versed in crafting resilient, pioneering female protagonists who carve out their identities beyond the confines of motherhood and marriage. Fly Away Home echoes the themes of liberation found in Kate Chopin's The Awakening (1899) and Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own (1929). However, the most striking similarities emerge between Piercy's character, Daria, and Ibsen's Nora in A Doll's House (1879). Both Daria and Nora are belittled and manipulated by husbands who keep them "in the dark"; both women uncover their spouse's ruthless, self-serving actions. Though leaving the domesticity they cherish is heart-wrenching, they ultimately embrace the path of independence.

Piercy's Fly Away Home has also drawn comparisons to the works of "Meridel LeSueur and other Socialist writers of the 1930s," as it boldly confronts what the author perceives as the urgent dilemmas facing American society: the struggle between social classes, the creeping tide of gentrification, and the emotional desolation within the traditional nuclear family.

Across Marge Piercy’s literary landscape, her novels often spotlight female protagonists navigating a world tailor-made for men, where women gain prominence primarily through their associations—especially marital ties—with males. Fly Away Home aligns closely with The Longings of Women (1994), echoing the themes found throughout Piercy's poetry. Furthermore, it delves into familiar territory explored by many female authors who, like Piercy, emerged on the literary scene in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This distinguished group includes Alice Walker, Toni Morrison, Margaret Atwood, Erica Jong, Alice Munro, Doris Lessing, and later, Ann Beattie.