It is extremely hard to begin this, but nonetheless, I will try to show you a few things I have learned upon cross-examining the story, Jonathan Livingstone Seagull, with a movie with a wonderful plot, not to mention soundtrack, City of Angels.
In the movie, the protagonist, Seth, is an angel who was charged with taking the souls of the dead to heaven. However, he fell in love with Maggie, a heart surgeon, when he found her trying to save a man he already took to heaven, and due to the fact that he is visible to Maggie. (According to the story, only those who are about to die are able to see angels.) He is hindered by his angelic nature, and thus decided to become human by literally falling off the heavens.
I saw quite a stark difference between Seth and Jonathan at this point. Jonathan went into a higher plane of existence, and, in Eastern, or probably New Age religious terms, always aim to achieve moksha, or maybe nirvana, both of which mean “moving up into a higher plane of existence; liberation of the soul.” His continuous learning is reminiscent of Buddhist philosophies of constant meditation and inner learning. His story ended almost in a Buddha-like manner, with him transcending and leaving his student, Fletcher, to continue his ministry, or, again in Buddhist theological terms, his sangha.
Seth, on the other hand, was already on a high plane of existence as an angel yet he chose to “downgrade” himself and become mortal, with all a mortal man’s flaws and problems. It is almost akin to the Japanese creation myth, where Ninigi, the gods’ envoy to the Earth, and the grandfather of all Japanese, chose Sakuya, or prosperity over Iwanga, or immortality, just because of his love for his new place. In the case of Seth, however, he chose hardship in order for him to be with a woman, and not for very long.
By the way, with all this Buddhist connection and stuff, I wish to add that Seth for me is just like a lama in Tibetan Buddhism. He is already close to transcending to eternal bliss, yet he chose to go back down here on Earth to serve and help others in their quests, because he loves the people.
This shows that in the first case, the two characters seem like opposites, but it shows something common between this two winged and wicked fellows. (Note that wicked here means cool, and nothing negative is intended to be connoted by the word.) Both of them are willing to make great and revolutionary changes in order for them to pursue what they love. Jonathan accepted being an outcast of his society for his love of flight, while Seth willingly outcasted himself from his old angel friends in order to be with the being he loves. Jonathan became a teacher and took outcasts in his sway, while Seth became your average, down to earth, and reliable Joe.
One more similarity arises. Both of them have experienced pain and suffering. Jonathan suffered from being a loner, someone who has no flock, not even parents. He lived in solitude, where his only consolation is his art.
Seth’s case, in retrospect, is more morbid than what Jonathan had to go through. After he went through the transformation and became human, Maggie died of a car accident, almost destroying everything he came to Earth for. Nonetheless, he continued and carried on.
Another common thing between the two is the presence of mentors to guide them. Jonathan has Chiang, who taught him how to go anywhere in space and time, and also taught him the many words of wisdom he shared with his students. Seth, on the other hand, has Nathaniel Messenger, a former angel, who taught him that it is possible for him to fall from being an angel into being a man on earth. Later, he became his guide on Earth.
Back to the differences, we can see that Jonathan’s goals are much more self-oriented than Seth’s goals. Jonathan is portrayed more as a character seeking truth and enlightenment, while Seth is portrayed as more of a character that wishes the happiness of others.
It was worth the time and writing for all of this, I could write some more, but that would constitute a thesis I have to pass for Technical Writing. =)
