The title, The Invention of Wings, illustrates a prominent symbol throughout the novel. When Handful was a young girl, Charlotte told her a story about her grandmother from Africa and a traditional African folktale she brought with her to America. They say all of their spirits live in the trees and sky, and take the form of birds, flying freely.
"She say our spirits live in the tree with the birds, learning to fly" (Kidd 53).
Throughout the novel, Handful and Charlotte remember this tale of the blackbirds, in order to keep their hopes and faith strong that they would gain their freedom one day. One of the more significant of these instances is as Charlotte returns after many years with Handful's younger sister, Sky. Sky says that as they were running from the plantation they escaped from, Charlotte often told her the story of the blackbirds. Because of this, she named her Sky to remind her that they would gain their freedom one day.
The title, The Invention of Wings, demonstrates the journey they make to gain their freedom, or the invention of their own wings to fly freely, like the spirits of their ancestors. The novel ends as they finally receive their freedom and escape the Grimke household that has restrained them for too long.
"When we left the mouth of the harbor, the wind swelled and the veils round us flapped, and I heard the blackbird wings. We rode onto the shining water, onto the far distance" (Kidd 359).
"She say our spirits live in the tree with the birds, learning to fly" (Kidd 53).
Throughout the novel, Handful and Charlotte remember this tale of the blackbirds, in order to keep their hopes and faith strong that they would gain their freedom one day. One of the more significant of these instances is as Charlotte returns after many years with Handful's younger sister, Sky. Sky says that as they were running from the plantation they escaped from, Charlotte often told her the story of the blackbirds. Because of this, she named her Sky to remind her that they would gain their freedom one day.
The title, The Invention of Wings, demonstrates the journey they make to gain their freedom, or the invention of their own wings to fly freely, like the spirits of their ancestors. The novel ends as they finally receive their freedom and escape the Grimke household that has restrained them for too long.
"When we left the mouth of the harbor, the wind swelled and the veils round us flapped, and I heard the blackbird wings. We rode onto the shining water, onto the far distance" (Kidd 359).