Characters

The main characters in the short story “Flight” by Doris Lessing are the grandfather and Alice, but Lucy and Steven are also worth mentioning as they contribute to the change that the grandfather ultimately goes through.

At the beginning of the story, the grandfather is focused on the two most important things in his life, his pigeons and his granddaughter. His actions are driven by his fears that he will lose Alice, while Alice struggles to gain independence from her family. 

Lucy, Alice’s mother is also worth mentioning, as she is the one that reveals the pattern in her father’s behavior when she and her daughters got married. Steven is also an important character, as his gesture leads to the grandfather’s change of heart. 

You can read the full characterization of the grandfather, and Alice in the following sections.