Different Ending - Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Different Ending – Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Much of Jonathan Livingston Seagull seems to be a metaphor for the Gospel story of Jesus’ life. On pages 120-122, one of Jonathan’s followers, Fletcher, flies into a cliff to avoid crashing into a young seagull just beginning to fly. Fletcher appears to die but Jonathan tells him that he can overcome his limitations and live.
This is similar to Jesus bringing Lazarus back to life. Jonathan sarcastically calls himself the Son of the Great Gull. When the flock hears Jonathan denying that he is the only Son of the Great Gull, they descend on Fletcher and Jonathan and plan to destroy them as devils. So Jonathan asks Fletcher if he wanted to leave. When Fletcher says he would like to leave, Jonathan instantly transports them through time and space a half mile away.
The next day, Fletcher and Jonathan return to the Flock. Jonathan teaches Fletcher that he should try loving the Flock, but not the hatred and evil. After he teaches Fletcher about love being the key to overcoming limitations, Jonathan vanishes, promising that Fletcher could practice and find him in the future. Fletcher is left behind to be the leader of the Outcast Flock and to teach them to fly.
My alternative ending is: It was, for Fletcher, as though the rock were a giant hard door into another world. A burst of fear and shock and black as he hit, and then he was adrift in a strange strange sky, forgetting, remembering, forgetting; afraid and sad and sorry, terribly sorry. Fletcher’s family wailed, crying loudly that their beloved brother had died. How could this be? How could such a fast, spiritual seagull die?
Fletcher’s sister flew fast to reach Jonathan, who was resting nearby. “Come quickly,” she said. “My brother, your friend Fletcher, is dead.”
Jonathan flew immediately to the cliff and saw the mangled body of his friend and student. He lifted his eyes to the sky for a silent instant, then called loudly, "Fletcher,
Much of Jonathan Livingston Seagull seems to be a metaphor for the Gospel story of Jesus’ life. On pages 120-122, one of Jonathan’s followers, Fletcher, flies into a cliff to avoid crashing into a young seagull just beginning to fly. Fletcher appears to die but Jonathan tells him that he can overcome his limitations and live.
This is similar to Jesus bringing Lazarus back to life. Jonathan sarcastically calls himself the Son of the Great Gull. When the flock hears Jonathan denying that he is the only Son of the Great Gull, they descend on Fletcher and Jonathan and plan to destroy them as devils. So Jonathan asks Fletcher if he wanted to leave. When Fletcher says he would like to leave, Jonathan instantly transports them through time and space a half mile away.
The next day, Fletcher and Jonathan return to the Flock. Jonathan teaches Fletcher that he should try loving the Flock, but not the hatred and evil. After he teaches Fletcher about love being the key to overcoming limitations, Jonathan vanishes, promising that Fletcher could practice and find him in the future. Fletcher is left behind to be the leader of the Outcast Flock and to teach them to fly.
My alternative ending is: It was, for Fletcher, as though the rock were a giant hard door into another world. A burst of fear and shock and black as he hit, and then he was adrift in a strange strange sky, forgetting, remembering, forgetting; afraid and sad and sorry, terribly sorry. Fletcher’s family wailed, crying loudly that their beloved brother had died. How could this be? How could such a fast, spiritual seagull die?
Fletcher’s sister flew fast to reach Jonathan, who was resting nearby. “Come quickly,” she said. “My brother, your friend Fletcher, is dead.”
Jonathan flew immediately to the cliff and saw the mangled body of his friend and student. He lifted his eyes to the sky for a silent instant, then called loudly, "Fletcher,