Last and First Men · Chapter
II: The Flying Men explained
The chapter describes the final phase of the Sixth Men, who, obsessed with flight, created the Seventh Men, a species of winged humanoids.
What happens
The chapter describes the final phase of the Sixth Men, who, obsessed with flight, created the Seventh Men, a species of winged humanoids. These flying men lived carefree lives but were eventually subjugated by flightless intellectuals, leading to a tragic mass suicide.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional peak occurs when the Fifth Men, having achieved profound self-awareness and intimacy over millen…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Human Nature and Evolution
The chapter explores the deliberate evolution of a new human species, the Seventh Men, and the consequences of such biological engineering.
- Suffering and Redemption
The Seventh Men's tragic end, choosing mass suicide over subjugation, highlights themes of suffering and the search for dignity.
- The Limits of Knowledge
The Seventh Men's philosophy acknowledges the limits of human understanding, viewing their intellectual system as a 'bubble adrift in chaos.'
Characters to notice
- The Sixth Men
The creators of the Seventh Men, obsessed with flight and eventually producing the winged species.
- The Seventh Men
The winged human species, carefree and adapted for flight, who face extinction through subjugation and mass suicide.
- The Flying Men
Another name for the Seventh Men, emphasizing their aerial nature and tragic end.
Key passages
“The Seventh Men were pygmies, scarcely heavier than the largest of terrestrial flying birds.”
The Seventh Men were small and light, comparable to large birds, adapted for flight.
Describes the physical characteristics of the Seventh Men.
“At the appointed signal the whole population rose into the air with a deep roar of wings. Sorrow was left behind.”
When the signal was given, everyone flew up, leaving their sadness behind.
The moment of mass flight before their suicide.
