The Parachutist Symbol Analysis

The parachutist represents both Eamonn and Parvaiz’s failed attempts to live up to or outshine their fathers. The morning that Isma meets Eamonn, she looks through her skylight and notices a parachutist descending through the sky. Isma notes that the image reminds her of Icarus, “hurtling down, his father, Daedalus, following too slowly to catch the vainglorious boy.” This is a nod to Home Fire’s roots in ancient Greek mythology: in the myth, Icarus is the headstrong son of the brilliant inventor Daedalus, who builds wax wings for himself and his son so that they can fly. But when Icarus flies higher and higher out of pride, he flies too close to the sun, his wings melt, and he falls to his death. Both Eamonn and Parvaiz are analogues of Icarus, as they take desperate actions to try and live up to the legacies their fathers, Karamat and Adil, have laid out for them. In each son’s case, these attempts ultimately lead to own their deaths.