"The People Could Fly" portrays some truly harrowing stuff. We see enslaved people getting beaten after collapsing from the heat; we see old men threatened with death; we even see a young woman and her baby get flat-out attacked by some really nasty guys. Even at the darkest moments, however, there's hope. If you're lucky enough, good old Toby will creep up to you, whisper the magic words in your ear, and then all of the sudden you'll fly away—for real. No matter how much suffering they endure, then, there's always hope.
Questions About Suffering
- Why does Toby wait until people are almost hopeless to speak the magic words?
- How does the Master ignore all of the suffering?
- Why is Sarah unable to croon to her baby?
- Will life get better for the people who can't fly after these events? Why or why not?
Chew on This
Although "The People Could Fly" depicts a lot of suffering, it contains an ultimately hopeful message about the human spirit.
Toby seems to wait until people have reached their breaking point before helping them, implying that there's some sort of need for suffering in order to truly soar.