Flight Behavior

Cub got Dellarobia pregnant when they were still in high school and married her out of a sense of obligation, a core component of his personality. While he is a loyal husband, he has nothing in common with his wife short of their two children, and even there they differ. From Dellarobia’s perspective, Cub too often relies on his parents’ words as law and is cowed by them frequently. His lack of understanding and inability to communicate with Dellarobia leave him surprised at the end of the novel when she leaves him. Although Cub stands up to his father in the end, it’s too late to make a difference in his marriage.

Hester is Bear’s wife and Cub’s mother: a domineering, devoutly religious, and serious woman. She intimidates Dellarobia from the start and never fully accepts her daughter-in-law into the family because she believes that someday Dellarobia will run away with the children or die by suicide. Later in the book, Hester reveals that she is similar to Dellarobia in that she married a man she didn’t love because she was pregnant. She gave that child up for adoption and resigned herself to a life with Bear.

Bear Turnbow is the serious-minded farmer who is husband to Hester and father to Cub. He doesn’t entertain any fanciful notions, gets out of church services by hiding at the men’s club, and dedicates his life to keeping his farm and shop afloat. Bear is a larger-than-life force in his son’s life and is shocked when Cub stands up to him at the end of the novel to protect the Turnbow land, and the butterflies, from a logging company.

Professor and scientist Ovid Byron comes to the Turnbow property to set up a lab and study the butterfly phenomenon. He earns Dellarobia’s respect and is the catalyst for her change from restless, unhappy farm wife to budding scientist. Although she develops a crush on him, Dellarobia recognizes Ovid as a man to emulate rather than one to have an affair with.

Preston is Dellarobia and Cub’s son. A kindergartener, Preston takes a liking to learning about nature and science thanks to the butterflies and Dellarobia’s work in the lab. He is a mirror of his mother: intelligent and always asking questions and searching for answers. Cub is disappointed in Preston, as Cub gauges manliness according to brawn and athletic ability rather than smarts and savviness.

Cordelia, also called Cordie, is Cub and Dellarobia’s young daughter. She is too young to be as active in the butterfly projects as Preston and represents the future generation of humans, who will have to learn to navigate climate change. Dellarobia looks at her daughter and wonders what world will be left for the younger generations if steps aren’t taken now to save it.

Ogle is an influential young pastor. He preaches in a way that appeals to young and old, and he both inspires and panics Hester. Ogle ultimately works with Hester and Cub to strong-arm Bear into giving up the logging contract to the Turnbow land and preserving both it and the butterflies instead. Toward the end of the novel, Hester’s fascination with Ogle is explained when it is revealed that Ogle is the son she had out of wedlock whom she was forced to give up for adoption.

A wild and free spirit, Dovey has been Dellarobia’s best friend since grade school. The two women depend on their friendship to see them through the toughest moments in life, including the breakdown of Dellarobia’s marriage and the entirety of the butterfly phenomenon. Dovey not only helps watch Dellarobia’s children when she can, but she also offers them a place to stay when Dellarobia decides to divorce Cub.