Student Question
What are the similarities and differences between the Flock's philosophy and Jonathan's in Jonathan Livingston Seagull?
Quick answer:
In Jonathan Livingston Seagull, the Flock believes that the only reason why gulls fly is to obtain food and thus guarantee their survival, while Jonathan uncovers that there's much more to flying and to life in general than squabbling over food and fearing the world.
The philosophy of the Flock is simple: fly to survive, and their main objective is to get food—"to eat, to stay alive as long as they possibly can." All gulls are expected to follow the Flock's "social norms and conventions," as they believe that this is the most a gull can be in its life. They're selfish, angry, and scared, and they live an empty, boring, monotonous, and meaningless life, and what's worse, they're convinced that this how life is supposed to be.
"See here, Jonathan," said his father not unkindly. "Winter isn’t far away. Boats will be few and the surface fish will be swimming deep. If you must study, then study food, and how to get it. This flying business is all very well, but you can't eat a glide, you know. Don't you forget that the reason you fly is to eat."
Those who are different and...
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fail to conform to the Flock's mentality are deemed outcasts, and they are banished from the Flock—and this is exactly what happens to Jonathan.
Jonathan is no ordinary gull, as he doesn't share the philosophy of his Flock. He's bold enough to dream a little bigger and discovers that he very much enjoys flying and finds pure pleasure in it; he realizes that there's so much more to learn and decides to explore the unknown. Thus, he challenges himself and ends up failing a few times; as a results, he tries to behave like the other gulls and simply be a part of the Flock. However, his thirst for knowledge and freedom is much greater than his determination to fit in.
This is essentially the main difference between Jonathan's and the Flock's philosophies. Jonathan is unafraid to push past his limits and redefine who he's supposed to be; in this sense, there are no similarities between Jonathan's thinking and the mentality of the Flock. Thus, the Flock banishes him, as they often do when someone dares to have a different mindset. They don't understand Jonathan's need and desire to fly higher and faster simply because he can. As a "lone wolf," or lone bird, Jonathan uncovers the world's wonders and becomes a master aviator, and in the process, he discovers himself.
In this context, it is notable to mention that Jonathan's journey for self-discovery is an allegory for humanity's quest for purpose and meaning; like Jonathan, humans are just as capable of surpassing their limits and uncovering their true potential. When we challenge society's norms and stigmas—when we reject the "Flock's philosophy" in order to pursue our own happiness and fulfillment—we become free to explore the world beyond our imagination. We just have to remember to live in the moment and strive to achieve our goals and dreams; in other words, we must dare to fly higher, in order to seek our perfection and discover both ourselves and our purpose.
We choose our next world through what we learn in this one. Learn nothing, and the next world is the same as this one, all the same limitations and lead weights to overcome.