Bianca Ysabel D.

Rabe
English 7
September 26, 2015
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Richard Bach
91 Pages
1. Discuss the parallelism of the seagull and the man.
Perhaps the resemblance of the seagull and the man is that they look at
themselves and think, that we all have limits, and that, once we reach that limit
we have reached heaven: the place where all glorious souls go. But the truth
is, both man and seagull has no limits, and that their perspective must be vast
enough in order to look beyond their wing tips and toes, because both, are
limitless.
2. What characteristics of the youth are observed in the book?
If everyone notices, the youth we have today are somewhat rebellious and they
often think that they are misunderstood by society; thus, we can resemble this
with the Center of Shame, and dubbing Jonathan Gull an Outcast by the
Brotherhood. We tend to cross that borderline of safe and dangerous,
forgetting the possible chances of sudden death and embarrassment but little
do we know, instead of staying behind the bars of limitation set by our society,
we can make an escape plan and dare to dream of things that we cannot
imagine.
Another attribute that the book contains in relation to the youth, is that no
matter what happens either we get banned from living amongst society again
the youth knows how to look back from where they began. It never affects
the fact that they (or perhaps, we) were thrown away to shame, nor forgotten
by our hideous names, but the circumstances are, we do not dare forget our
flock. If so we reach heaven, just like Jon Gull, there will be a time where can
can go and look back because nobody leaves their flock. Or in this case, our
families.
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3. A. How do your parents typically relate to you?

Me and my parents have this very unnatural relationship not unnatural to a

point where we talk to aliens and bribe them to abduct the people we hate, but
instead of talking about our life situations, wed rather talk about political
stupidity that the Filipinos are portraying. And from that, the dinner table
somewhat turns into a court, and then it escalates to somewhat a comedy bar
that humors us through, once again, political stupidity. They dont set a limit
for me: if I wanted to eat 24 chicken McNuggets, they let me. If I want
something, I must earn it, but they eventually give it. What I love about them
relating with me is that they understand me, in a way which parents are
supposed to understand their children. (It is unexplainable.)
B. When did you feel that you have a done a breakthrough but your family and friends
thought it a shame and reckless irresponsibility in your part?
There was this one time where I didnt eat for days because of this intense
research for a National Mathematical Convention for five days, all my
stomach has ever received were Skyflakes and coffee, and instead of them
being proud of me getting the scholarship privilege in Australia, my parents
and aunts somewhat managed to cringe at me because I was hospitalized three
days after the convention. I expected some kind of appreciation, but I guess
them paying for my hospital bills was enough.
C. What other things caused the gap between you and your parents or other elders in
your family.
Religion. Definitely religion. I wasnt much of a Christian Girl (unlike my
other cousins) and I tend to stroll around and explore rather than sit in church
listening to gospels. Ive tried explaining that I still believe in God, that there
is still salvation, and Ive told them that perhaps Gods perspective is that as
long as you believe in Him does not set you aside form those people who go to
church everyday, 365 days a year, to tell everybody that St. Peter would let
them in the gates of Heaven. But apparently, their hardheaded souls cannot
open wide enough because they think that Dan Brown (specifically Angels and
Demons) has deceived me and put me in the highway to hell.
So, to hell I go. Far from them, I pray.

4. What could be the falcons short wings in your life?

My interpretation of a falcons short wings would be the thing that we would
never have (for we have to deal with what was given to us), but instead of
sulking into the depths of limitations, we find ways to find an equivalent to
that particular thing that we desire and in my case, the falcons short wings
would be my future. I tend to chase after it, in a sense that Dream of changing
my body and soul into the person that I dream to be. But Jon Gull has made
me realize that we can deal with what we have, and make it into the form of
what we are dreaming of and breaking our own limitations and defining our
own Heaven.
5. What are the evidences or manifestations of a teenagers burning desire to try things
out on his own?
Because the world has so much to give, and there are only a few people
willing to take the gift. Discovering things was never for your name going
down in history, but for the experience, for the story that you will stick with
you to your grave. In the adolescent stage, we are in between of releasing our
childhood days and grasping into adulthood where everything is a matter of
seriousness. Perhaps a teenagers manifestation for discovering the unknown
is that was the graduation from our childhood years for we have mastered it,
and trying new things out is our way of introducing ourselves into the world of
adults.
6. Who is Chiang in your life?
I havent found a teacher yet to tell me to let go of my limitations for
everybody, everyday, reminds me of my failures and limitations. Chiang has
never flew by my life.
7. What is said about love, friendship, and perfection in the book? Which concepts
struck you the most? Why?
Jon Gulls lessons about love was the need to come back to his flock in Earth
and teach them love for him was never holding grudges and learning to
forgive. And that with friendship, friendship could overcome everything
space and time and you will be left with what you have Now. But the concept
that hit me the most would be the one about perfection, taking up thousands
and thousands of lives to find it and show forth but thing is, you may only
need one life if you look for perfection and find it, in one flap of a wing.
8. What insights did you get from the book?
a. As a person Your fingerprints to your toes, they will never limit you. You
have yourself to tell your mind that the horizon that you are seeing will never

be the limit to yourself. And that you are the sole reason why you cannot reach
your own Heaven.
b. As a member of a family They may or may not understand you in a way, but
you know, that they will always be there, because they are your flock.
c. As an artist that we all must have a mentor (in a way) to tell us and guide us
in our artistic journey.
9. Why do you think Richard Bach entitled this book Jonathan Livingston Seagull?
Perhaps he has thought of humans, may or may not understand their own flaws
by reflecting on an animal so for his message to get across to the other
people he has dreamed of influencing, maybe Jonathan Gull wouldve done a
better job because he has found his own Heaven. He named a seagull like a
man would name his son because like any other, if Jon Seagull could find his
heaven, maybe we could, too.