History Literature / JonathanLivingstonSeagull

The book was adapted into a feature film in 1973 with an award-winning [[PopStarComposer musical score by]] Music/NeilDiamond. Bach would continue the themes of reincarnation, transcendence, and higher realities in ''[[Literature/IllusionsTheAdventuresOfAReluctantMessiah Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah]]''; both novels were highly influential in the spiritual movements of the TheSeventies.

''Jonathan Livingston Seagull'' is a novella by Creator/RichardBach published in 1970. It is a fable about a seagull who dreams of more than a dreary day-to-day life of squabbling for food and teaches himself to fly farther and faster than any bird could imagine. He suffers terribly in the course of his journey of self-discovery: both physical trauma from the stresses that he puts on his body and ostracization from the Flock, who cannot begin to understand the idea of a seagull who just wants to fly.

Eventually, he [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence ascends to a higher level of spiritual existence]] and discovers that he's not the first to do so. Unlike his new peers, however, he chooses to return to the mundane world to teach others to follow in his path.

The book was adapted into a feature film in 1973 with an award-winning [[PopStarComposer musical score by]] Music/NeilDiamond. Bach would continue the themes of reincarnation, transcendence, and higher realities in ''[[Literature/IllusionsTheAdventuresOfAReluctantMessiah Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah]]''; both novels were highly influential in the spiritual movements of the 1970s.

The book was adapted into a feature film in 1973 with an award-winning [[PopStarComposer musical score by]] Music/NeilDiamond. Bach would continue the themes of transcendence and higher spiritual realities in ''[[Literature/IllusionsTheAdventuresOfAReluctantMessiah Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah]]''; both novels were highly influential in the spiritual movements of the 1970s.

* RefusingParadise: Jonathan declines to remain in the transcendent world because he laments the plight of his fellow seagulls and want to help them realize the truth. The more advanced spirits tell him that he's wasting his time, but they understand that he has to make the attempt in order to advance in his own journey of enlightenment.

* IChooseToStay: Inverted. Jonathan refuses to remain in the spirit world because he laments the plight of his fellow seagulls and want to help them realize the truth. The more advanced spirits tell him that he's wasting his time, but they understand that he has to make the attempt in order to advance in his own spiritual journey.

* MessianicArchetype: Jonathan returns to the mortal world to teach others what he's discovered, and builds a small cult of followers who attempt to learn flight in the same way that he did. They are ostracized by the Flock just as he was. When he finally achieves his goal of passing on his knowledge, yet another ascension awaits.

Eventually, he [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence ascends to a higher level of spiritual existence]] and discovers that his journey has only just begun -- he must return to the mundane world and teach others to follow in his path.

* SlidingScaleOfAnimalIntelligence: Seagulls can all speak intelligibly with one another. There is no indication that this ability is shared across species, and there are no humans in the story at all.

* AnimalTalk: Seagulls can all speak intelligibly with one another. There is no indication that this ability is shared across species, and there are no humans in the story at all.

* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: Jonathan dies of old age on the wing, and his spirit finds itself transcending mortality. He learns that he's not the first to have done so, and that it is the ultimate fate of every seagull to share in this journey.
* {{Forgiveness}}: Jonathan's second transcendence comes only when he learns, at last, to forgive the Flock for their transgressions against him.

* {{Reincarnation}}: Seagulls that die are reborn into new bodies in an unending cycle, with the goal of eventually transcending their mortality. Only a few, like Jonathan, ever discover this.

The book was adapted into a feature film in 1973 with an award-winning [[PopStarComposer musical score by]] Music/NeilDiamond. Bach would continue the themes of transcendence and higher spiritual realities in ''[[Literature/IllusionsTheAdventuresOfAReluctantMessiah Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah]]''.

The book was adapted into a feature film in 1973 with an award-winning [[PopStarComposer musical score by]] Music/NeilDiamond. Bach would continue the themes of transcendence and higher spiritual realities in ''[[Literature/IllusionsTheAdventuresOfAReluctantMessiah Illusions: TheAdventuresOfAReluctantMessiah]]''.

The book was adapted into a feature film in 1973 with an award-winning [[PopStarComposer musical score by]] Music/NeilDiamond. Bach would continue the themes of transcendence and higher spiritual realities in ''Literature/IllusionsTheAdventuresOfAReluctantMessiah''.

The book was adapted into a feature film in 1973 with an award-winning [[PopStarComposer musical score by]] Music/NeilDiamond.

[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/johnathan_livingston_seagull_3339.jpg]]
%%[[caption-width-right:200:some caption text]]

''Jonathan Livingston Seagull'' is a novella by Creator/RichardBach published in 1970. It is a fable about a seagull who dreams of more than the dreary day-to-day life of squabbling for food and instead begins teaching himself to fly farther and faster than any bird could imagine. He suffers terribly in the course of his journey of self-discovery: both physical trauma from the stresses that he puts on his body and ostracization from the Flock, who cannot begin to understand the idea of a seagull who just wants to fly.

Eventually, he [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence ascends to a higher level of spiritual existence]] and discovers that his journey is only the beginning -- he must return to the mundane world and teach others to follow in his path.

* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: Jonathan dies of old age on the wing, and his spirit finds itself transcending mortality. He learns from the inhabitants there that he's not the first, and that it is the ultimate fate of every seagull to share in this journey.

Tropes:

Eventually, he [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence ascends to a higher level of spiritual existence]] and discovers that his journey is only the beginning -- He must return to the mundane world and teach others to follow in his path.

''Jonathan Livingston Seagull'' is a novella by Creator/RichardBach published in 1970. It is a fable about a seagull who dreams of more than the dreary day-to-day life of squabbling for food and instead begins teaching himself to fly farther and faster than any bird could possibly dream. He suffers terribly in the course of his journey of self-discovery: both physical trauma from the stresses that he puts on his body and ostracization from the Flock, who cannot begin to understand the idea of a seagull who just wants to fly.

The book was adapted into a feature film in 1973 with a musical score by Music/NeilDiamond.