Symbols Any Way the Wind Blows Rainbow Rowell

Dragon Wings Symbol in Any Way the Wind Blows

Introduction

In Rainbow Rowell’s Any Way the Wind Blows, Simon Snow’s dragon wings are far more than a physical anomaly. They are the most visible, concrete symbol of his inner conflict: the struggle between his human past and his non‑human present, between the burden of being the Chosen One and the desire for an ordinary life. From the moment they appear, the wings force Simon—and everyone around him—to confront what he has become and what he still might choose to be. This analysis traces the literal reality of the wings, their shifting meaning across the novel, their connections to key characters and themes, and offers four study questions to deepen understanding.

Literal Description

Simon’s wings are described as scarlet, leathery appendages that emerge from his shoulders. Each wing has a bony ridge, a stony spike at the peak, and a fine, hair‑covered interior reminiscent of a lamb’s ear. They are large enough to fill an exam room when fully extended. Simon also has a tail connected to his spine, which Dr. Wellbelove warns is too risky to fully remove. To hide his wings, Simon straps them down with belts under a trench coat, a method that chafes and restricts his breathing. The wings are permanent and painful—they feel wrong when touched, triggering an instinctive rejection. Simon plans to have them surgically amputated by veterinary intern Niamh, who disinfected them with iodine and intended to dissect them after removal.

Recurrence and Evolving Significance

The wings appear repeatedly, and each recurrence reshapes their meaning:

  • Chapter 1‑2: Mrs. Wellbelove is shocked by Simon’s wings during a tense dinner. The wings mark him as alien in the Normal world. Simon refuses the Mage’s inheritance, firmly rejecting the Chosen One identity—with the wings as a constant reminder of that role.

  • Chapter 12: Alone in his flat, Simon unstraps his wings in preparation for surgery. He looks in the mirror and cannot imagine himself without them, acknowledging that he is “between Simons.” The wings symbolize his lost sense of self.

  • Chapter 14: During the disinfection procedure, Simon trembles and grips Agatha’s hands. The wings are a source of vulnerability and shame; he apologizes to Agatha for his past failures. Niamh begins the amputation on one wing.

  • Chapter 17: Simon postpones the surgery to see Baz. Baz examines the folded, Betadine‑stained wings and kisses them. Simon feels a strange new sensation—the wings become a point of intimacy and acceptance rather than rejection.

  • Chapter 18‑19: Baz refits a Watford shirt to accommodate Simon’s wings, seamlessly incorporating them into daily life. Simon offers his blood to Baz during a rat hunt, using his non‑human body as a gift. The wings are no longer a shameful secret but part of their relationship.

  • Chapter 51: At Watford, Simon unfurls his wings and flies to help find the magic goats. He uses his wings for a practical, heroic purpose, reclaiming agency and pride. Baz casts an invisibility spell so Normals won’t see, but the act is one of collaboration.

  • Chapter 91: Shepard suggests making shirts with wing openings. Simon, now knowing he was always a magician, breaks down crying while practicing with a sword. Baz comforts him. The wings are now integrated into Simon’s identity; he no longer seeks to remove them.

The meaning transforms: from hated burden → symbol of brokenness → object of acceptance → tool of connection → marker of a new, whole self.

Character Connections

Simon Snow The wings are the physical manifestation of Simon’s internal war. He calls himself “nothing” without magic and sees the wings as proof of his non‑humanity. His plan to amputate them represents his desire to become Normal, to escape the legacy of the Mage. Yet he cannot go through with it after reconnecting with Baz. The wings ultimately become part of his reconciled self. For more on Simon, see the Simon Snow character page.

Baz Pitch Baz is the first person to treat the wings with tenderness. He kisses them, refits clothing for them, and never asks Simon to hide them. When Simon offers blood, Baz is horrified but ultimately accepts. Baz’s unconditional love helps Simon see the wings as something other than a curse. See Baz’s character page.

Agatha Wellbelove Agatha watches Simon’s amputation with discomfort and pity. She remembers his flying over the sand in San Diego—a moment of freedom—but still views the wings as something to be removed. By the epilogue, Agatha has abandoned magic entirely, choosing a life with goats on the Watford grounds. The wings represent the magical world she has left behind.

Smith‑Smith‑Richards In chapters 35 and 44, Smith sees Simon as a “fallen angel” and calls the wings a “genius twist” for his own legend. He plans to use Simon as a symbol. The wings here are a commodity, something to be harnessed for power—contrasting sharply with Simon’s own view of them as a burden.

Theme Connections

The wings tie directly to the novel’s major themes:

  • Identity and Transformation: Simon’s wings force him to decide who he is. He starts as a human trying to become Normal, ends as a dragon‑winged magician who accepts his non‑human nature. The amputation is a metaphor for rejecting transformation; keeping the wings is embracing it.

  • Guilt and Forgiveness: Simon feels guilty for killing the Mage, for leaving Baz, for being a monster. The wings are a visible mark of that guilt. Baz’s forgiveness—and Simon’s eventual self‑forgiveness—allow him to stop wanting the wings gone.

  • Love and Control: Simon tries to control his body by scheduling the removal. Baz’s love is about letting go of control; he accepts the wings without trying to change them. Simon learns to surrender his need for control over his own form.

  • Power and Manipulation: The Mage manipulated Simon, and the wings are a result of that power. Smith tries to manipulate Simon’s image, using the wings as a marketing tool. Simon rejects both forms of exploitation.

  • Family and Legacy: The wings are part of Simon’s inheritance—from the Mage, from whatever dragon lineage he may have. His decision to keep them aligns with his refusal of the Mage’s estate; he takes ownership of his own legacy.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How do Simon’s feelings about his wings change from when they first appear to the end of the book? Cite specific scenes.

Initially, Simon views his wings as a hateful burden. In Chapter 12, he says “I’ll look like a docked terrier” and anticipates relief after removal. By Chapter 17, he postpones surgery to see Baz, and in Chapter 51 he willingly unfurls them to fly over Watford. In Chapter 91, he no longer discusses removal; the wings are simply part of his life. The shift is from shame to acceptance.

2. In what ways do the wings symbolize Simon’s struggle with his identity as the Chosen One and as a non‑human?

The wings physically mark Simon as different from both Normals and most magicians. They are a constant reminder of his destroyed Chosen One destiny and his dragon‑like nature. He says he is “between Simons,” implying he does not know who he is without them. Keeping the wings, and later learning he was always a magician, resolves the struggle: he is not the Chosen One, but he is a non‑human with his own power.

3. Compare Agatha’s and Baz’s reactions to Simon’s wings. What do their behaviors reveal about their relationships with Simon?

Agatha treats the wings as a problem to be solved; she helps calm Simon during disinfection but never embraces them as part of him. This reflects her distance from Simon—she has moved on emotionally. Baz, by contrast, kisses the wings, refits clothing for them, and accepts Simon’s body without reservation. His reaction reveals his commitment to loving Simon as he is, without conditions.

4. The wings are initially meant to be removed. Why does Simon ultimately keep them? What does this decision represent about his journey toward self‑acceptance?

Simon’s decision to keep his wings is driven by his reconnection with Baz and his own gradual acceptance of his nature. Instead of amputating, he learns to use them: he flies, he offers his blood, and he integrates them into his daily life. The decision represents his willingness to live with his differences rather than erase them, embracing a transformed identity shaped by love and agency rather than shame. He gives up the quest to be Normal and chooses to be himself.