How Kingsolver Uses Symbols, Religion, and Characters to Represent a Cultural Divide over Climate Change

      Climate change is a theme throughout the novel "Flight Behavior". The effects of climate change are illustrated through the heavy rainfalls and the butterflies. Through Kingsolver's characters we see many different perspectives on this topic portrayed. Some are highly religious such as Cub and his family, while others are scientists such as Ovid Byron and Pete. Dellarobia seems to represent both religious and scientific people, and both climate change skeptics and climate change believers. 

     Although the degree of Dellarobia's religious faith is somewhat unclear, she is often quoting bible verses or making comparisons to biblical events. She does this especially during the first part of the book as it is the only way she knows to describe strange things that are happening. When she first encounters the butterflies it reminded her of the burning bush in the Bible as "Moses came to mind, and Ezekiel, words from Scripture that occupied a certain space in her brain but no longer carried honest weight" (page 14). This quote suggests that she doesn't have much faith in her religion, yet it still seems to have a heavy grasp on her thoughts. Later in the book after she meets Ovid, she recalls how she had viewed the butterflies the first time as a supernatural sign and feels embarrassed. She begins to think of things more scientifically, and tries to explain the scientific reasons the butterflies are there to others. Yet, as much as she wants to believe the science she still has difficulty accepting the dire nature of climate change. When her and Ovid discuss how climate change could lead to the end of the world she tells him "I'm not saying I don't believe you, I'm saying I can't" (page 283). Dellarobia represents that while people can change and become believers in climate change, it is a long and difficult process to change the way one thinks, especially when they have been accustomed to not thinking scientifically. 

    Throughout the book, the ongoing heavy rains happening in Feathertown are mentioned frequently. They represent how climate change's effects can be seen as bad even by those who don't believe they are caused by climate change as the rains destroy many of the farmer's crops. While these farmers don't think that climate change caused the rain, they can see that the amount of rain is dangerous. Furthermore, the rains evoke the story of the Great Flood. It is evident that this connection is made by the townspeople as in the grocery store, "Greg winked at [Dellarobia]. 'Is it time to start building an ark?' " (page 169). This contrasts with the butterflies, who represent how climate change deniers might see climate effects as a good thing while scientists know they are actually negative. To the townspeople, the butterflies seem like a beautiful miracle. This shows how while the obviously negative effects on the environment might make it easier to convince people of the dangers of climate change, the seemingly nice effects, make it harder.