Jonathan is the book’s protagonist. At the start of the novella, he is a young and free-spirited gull with a passion for flying and a desire to improve his skills; this puts him at odds with his family and Flock, who see flight simply as a way to secure food. Jonathan’s nonconformity eventually leads to his banishment from the Flock, but he perseveres in learning as much about flying as he can on his own. However, after growing old and ascending to a new plane of existence, Jonathan learns that there is more to life even than the physical freedom of flight, and over the course of Parts 2 and 3, Jonathan grows into a wise and loving teacher committed to sharing what he has learned about transcendence, perfection, and freedom with as many gulls as possible. Although some come to see him as a Christ-like figure, even labelling him the “Son of the Great Gull,” Jonathan remains humble, insisting that what he has learned is available to everyone who embraces their true and limitless nature.