Thesis For The Aviators Wife

The Aviator's Wife New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction, Melanie Benjamin, with her novel The Aviator's Wife, tells the story of Anne and Charles Lindbergh, famous aviators from American history. Benjamin depicts her main character as curious in the beginning, but as the novel progresses her curiosity leads her to learn new things about her life, leading her to be less independent than she was in the beginning, and more dependant upon Charles. Although Benjamin enthralls the audiences’ attention by using pathos to relate Anne’s experiences to theirs, she never stops describing the change in attitude of Anne. Through new experiences, hardships, joy, and death, Anne is transformed into a completely different person allowing the reader to relate to this figure who has always been kept as a mystery or held up as a hero. The
Aviator’s Wife makes the character more realistic for the audience. The author Melanie Benjamin develops Anne’s character through her interactions with her sister. Benjamin states “ ...Mother was pushing Elisabeth forward, exclaiming, colonel Lindbergh, I’m so glad for you to meet my eldest daughter, Elisabeth!”(Benjamin 16). Her sister exhibited the outgoing personality that was loved by everyone; she was the sibling Anne was never able to compete with. Anne was more of an intellectual with literary desires. “Finally, something unspooled within me and I had to release it on the page and I didn’t care what my husband had to say about it.”(Benjamin 223-224)” This explains to the reader that Anne has a love and passion for writing, that can not be tamed by anyone.
Anne was the shy child that was overlooked by her father; her sister was her father’s favorite child, as he seemed to always give her attention. “Elisabeth was the same as ever, and I was the same as ever around her; no longer a confident college senior, I was diminished in her golden presence.”(Benjamin 8). This explains to the reader that Anne was often over looked for her accomplishments, being disregarded in her sister's presence.
Benjamin waits until Anne is a senior in college traveling to Mexico City for her family Christmas to provide a glimmer of excitement in Anne’s life. “I nodded; calvin coolidge was an old school chum of my father’s, and the reason we were here in Mexico.”(Benjamin 26) Benjamin unfolds that Anne has caught the eye of Colonel Charles Lindbergh; he is a successful pilot that made a famous solo flight across the Atlantic. Charles is very wealthy and confident, leaving a mysterious fire of wonder for those around him, such as Anne. However even though Anne believes she will be unable to be seen next to the Colonel, she is surprised one evening with a letter addressed to her. “ Colonel Lindbergh had looked for me-and, finding me, had understood me.” (Benjamin 35)
Benjamin illustrates Anne and Charles as adventurist soulmates looking for a lifelong journey.
After charles flies with Anne he finds he is scared for her, and needs to protect her leading him to state the following- “ It must mean that I should ask if you would consider marrying me...”(Benjamin 84). This manifests Anne’s belief of transitioning from a quiet young girl, into a woman ready to take on the world. “We had decided to honeymoon on a new motorboat, as the entire world would be scanning the clouds for the blissful, daring newlyweds of the sky.”(Benjamin 92). As Anne never thought she would even be noticed by the infamous Colonel Charles Lindbergh, she was now ready to marry him and take on life in the public eye. Throughout the novel the author characterizes them as a journeyful couple that must remain in the shadows to escape the press however that is not always possible“ It’s them! Somebody cried, and we sprang apart, caught - doing what?...” (Benjamin 99).This shows the audience that even as they tried to stay disguised they were always found in a crowd, however this brought them closer together in their
marriage.
Although life seems to be more exciting for Anne, the reality of another spiraling trend is once again taking over Anne’s life. “ 1st bad experience” Charles overshadows Anne just as her sister and father had done in her early years. The author explains“ You’re going to learn to fly, as wells as navigate.”(Benjamin 97). Through this experience Anne was able to become the first woman licensed glider pilot, but still her needs were not being met. Benjamin tells of Anne’s need for love, but how Charles is consumed with his own life instead of his marriage. “I waited for him to comfort me, to wrap me in his arms and tell me it would be all right. He didn’t, he looked at his watch instead.”(Benjamin 101). Anne’s character is falling back into the darkness, without her husband's acknowledgment..
The author demonstrates Annes need for independence. The author writes “This was precisely why I needed a good stroll out in the open: to reacquaint myself with life back on the ground-real life, as most people called it”(Benjamin 123). Anne is struggling with her need to pursue a life that has never really existed for her. She is a strong woman with talents that are going unrecognized due to her husband’s accomplishments. She is transitioning once again into a woman that she wants to become as she entertains the thoughts of a life where she can make herself happy. “I would leave him. If fury had deserted me, calm rationality had taken its place.” (Benjamin 244). Anne's refusal to accept life with an inadequate marriage will soon take her to the next step.
This novel is about the journeys in life, joy, death, and hardships to overcome. Throughout this story Anne was characterized from a curious young girl that simply wanted to explore the world, to someone who had been eaten alive by hate. However she never allowed this to derive her character from remaining strong and independant. Charles and Anne Lindbergh were two characters full of excitement, on their journey to travel the world. Benjamin created these characters in such a way to enthrall the audience into relating their daily lives to those of Charles and Anne Lindbergh.