The Wild Robot Escapes

The concept of flight has been important to Roz ever since she became a mother to a bird. Though she could not teach Brightbill to fly, with the help of other geese coupled with Brightbill’s instincts, the young goose learned how to take to the skies, and soon he left on his first migration. As Roz is trapped at Hilltop Farm, she becomes keenly aware of the birds on the farm, and watching them take flight reminds her of Brightbill and how much she misses her son. The robot covets the freedom to travel at will just by spreading its wings and catching the wind: “Roz went back to admiring the hawk. Her eyes followed the bird as he soared through the sky, free to go wherever he pleased” (46).

Flight brings Brightbill back to Roz and allows her to plan her escape. However, once on the run, another type of flying entity haunts Roz’s journey as she lives in constant fear of the ominous white airships that patrol the skies searching for her. Birds symbolize freedom, but the airships represent the Makers’ need to control Roz and the potential loss of her autonomy.