As a force that gives objects weight, gravity symbolizes the burdens of human life and our tether to earthly, material concerns—things that Buddhist philosophy, on which King draws for his novel’s moral scope, considers foundational to human suffering. In his early attempts to understand what’s happening to him, Scott observes that gravity’s power over him has lessened. He’s also less bothered by things that would be expected to cause anger (Deirdre’s rudeness) or fear (Bull Neck’s threats). As a result, Scott is braver, kinder, and more motivated to make the world better and his life more meaningful.

Remembering something she read in college, Deirdre thinks of gravity as “the anchor that pulls us down into our graves” (139). This metaphor prompts a consideration of the long-term effects of life’s burdens—physical, emotional, and spiritual. For example, experiencing prejudice and discrimination has led Deirdre to become defensive and even hostile, which in turn makes it harder to build positive relationships that support health and longevity. Gravity’s diminished power over Scott thus symbolizes the diminished power of life’s burdens over him, developing Weightlessness as Liberation From Human Suffering.