The Political Function of Flight in Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu’s The Theory of Flight: An Aeronautical Reading

Abstract

Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu’s novel, The Theory of Flight, foregrounds the ethics and politics of reinvention for characters caught in sites of disablement. Towards symbolic enablement, the novel creatively harnesses motifs of flight, both in its literal and metaphorical senses, allowing the characters to realise beauty and transcendence. It also dictates how it ought to be read by drawing attention to the intersections of literary imagination and aviation science. Accordingly, the article proposes that a basic understanding of aerodynamics and aircraft engineering can enliven the reading experience and aid in conceptualising how a cross-section of characters in The Theory of Flight negotiates the tension between aspiration and its fruition. It contends that the author invokes aeronautical engineering to nuance her depiction of complex practices of self-formation and the consolidation of (inter)subjectivities inherent in the margins of society. Beyond illuminating the novel’s thematic depth, the unique conceptual framework seeks to unravel valuable insights into flight as a liberation praxis and, in the process, underscore how scientific perspectives can enrich literary analysis.