Dellarobia as a Bridge Between Science and Religion

In Flight Behavior, author Barbara Kingsolver walks a fine line between science and religion, illustrating how rural communities interact with nature and their attitudes towards science, especially when it conflicts with deeply-held religious beliefs. Kingsolver takes a tentatively optimistic approach to the intersection of science and religion in such communities, which is seen through Dellarobia’s curiosity and role as a bridge between the scientists and other townspeople. Her devoutness may be questionable at times, but it’s worth mentioning that Dellarobia is a Christian woman, though she differs from many other religious community members in how she embraces science, even when it tells her things she doesn’t want to hear. Dellarobia’s role as a bridge between these groups suggests that Kingsolver believes that open-mindedness is essential to science and religion’s ability to coexist with one another. This belief is especially evident after Dr. Byron’s first dinner with the Turnbow family when she asks him why he let her ramble on about the monarchs when he himself is an expert. He simply says, “I never learn anything from listening to myself” (122). This is precisely the attitude that Kingsolver nudges readers to adopt throughout the novel.

Throughout the novel, Dr. Byron often acts as a voice of reason for Dellarobia, providing alternatives to her misguided beliefs and challenging her to think critically about the norms of her society. One example of this is when Dellarobia tells Dr. Byron about the long-haul trucker who altruistically offers to transport the monarch butterflies to Florida. At first, Dellarobia doesn’t understand that this solution merely puts a band-aid on a much larger problem, but she comes to realize the true implications when Dr. Byron tells her “you are who you are, because of a history of genetic combinations” and helps her grasp the importance of crossbreeding in terms she can understand (317).

By portraying Dr. Byron, a scientist, as the voice of reason, Kingsolver conveys her dedication to environmental consciousness and preference for science over religion. However, one of Dr. Bryon’s admirable qualities is the gentleness with which he shapes Dellarobia’s learning and the respect he shows for the local religious beliefs. These attributes signal that while Kingsolver may be frustrated about the state of climate change and educational shortcomings in rural communities, she recognizes that cultural sensitivity and empathy must be brought to these conversations for progress to ensue.