Flying West

Pearl Cleage’s play Flying West is a story that deals with people of color trying to live their lives with no segregation in1898. The setting of the play took place in Nicodemus, Kansas, a small town. Miss Leah, seventy three year old elderly woman, is a character in the play that grew up in slavery. The character appears to be a stubborn, who does not like to be told what to do and will not back down. For example, when Miss Leah is offered to spend the winter season at her neighbor’s house, she refused the offer. Later, she was convinced to accept. She is well known for owning neighboring property. Later in the play she reveals more about her life. Miss Leah continues to talk about her ten children that never completely her children due to the slave trade. This reveals another side of her personality. Throughout the play Miss Leah reveals more about herself, making her complex, dynamic character. Miss Leah is a three dimensional character shaped by her values and world experiences.

As I analyzed Miss Leah’s character, I concluded that she changes over that course of the play. At the same time, there was something that made who she is as a person, her values. Growing up in slavery made Miss Leah an independent, strong, well rounded woman. Therefore she values women who are like her, for example Sophie Washington and Fannie Dovie. She admires the fact that these two women own property, despite the fact that it is 1898 and it is difficult for women of color to accomplish. Miss Leah admires well rounded women, which meant that they are work full time and still be able to have a warm cooked meals. I speculated that Miss Leah was giving Sophie advice about her coffee as she tasted it, as it says in page 12, “Then they have to drink your coffee.” Since Sophie is always working she does not have the time to cook and clean but Miss Leah makes advises her to work on her cooking skills. All this goes to show that Miss Leah’s values are strong and sticks by them to the fullest.

Miss Leah is an elderly woman who has experienced a lot of hardships in her life, leading her to have high values. When she witnesses Minnie, sister of Sophie and Fannie, being struck by her husband, she becomes altered. Miss Leah can not do much but to give advice to Minnie by telling her, “If he hit you once, he will do it again.” This goes to show that Miss Leah values respect for women and how they should be treated. It also shows that she does not tolerate abuse from men and upholds no remorse to men who take advantage of women. She decides to take matter into her own hands by making an old recipe of poisoning apple pie to try and kill Frank, Minnie’s husband. This shows that she stand string by her values.

Over all Miss Leah has shown many sides to her. I feel that I have gotten to know the character more through play considering the fact that she is not the main character and doesn’t really come out a lot. She manages to be a strong knowledgeable person who anyone can rely on. Most importantly her values remain strong. By analyzing her character and values, it made me wonder what my values are and how strongly do I believe in them.