“Flying Home” by Ralph Ellison is a story of identity, judgment, and striving for achievement in a society that sets an entire group of people up for failure. Todd, a flight school candidate, wants to defend his country and bring pride and prosperity to his Black community. The story conveys the depth of Todd’s existential struggle in relatively few pages: Although Todd never explicitly questions the meaning of his life, the dialogue and subtext of the story imply this type of questioning. In her letter, Todd’s girlfriend poses one of the story’s central questions: For whom is Todd using his flying skills? Is it worth it for him to risk his life for an anti-Black nation?

Todd’s primary character arc is an emotional and psychological journey that sparks deep-seated memories and prompts a moment of personal transformation. His setting and physical position are static throughout the story, so his discussions with Jefferson and Teddy (and the thoughts and feelings they evoke) are the only events that move the plot forward. Todd’s pain is also a significant factor in both the plot and character aspects of the story. His pain both makes him intensely focused on the moment and, at times, incapacitates him so that he is no longer in control of his thoughts and feelings.