The Great Turkey Walk

The turkeys are one of the novel’s central symbols, representing Simon’s underestimated potential and the profound value of unconventional intelligence. Simon himself is dismissed as “pea-brained” by his family and peers. He explicitly identifies this insult as comparing his mental capacity to that of birds, but he believes that his turkeys are both beautiful and capable, seeing in them something that others miss. Similarly, Simon himself will prove to have qualities that others have overlooked. He has a beauty of spirit and hidden capacities that emerge during his journey west with his flock of birds.

Simon’s innate understanding of the birds reveals a practical wisdom that surpasses the cynical, “book-smart” intelligence of others. The turkeys are thus intrinsically linked to the theme of Redefining Intelligence Beyond Book Smarts, as their success becomes the ultimate validation of Simon’s unique gifts. This symbolism is powerfully connected to Miss Rogers’s advice for Simon to “spread [his] wings” (5). This metaphor is realized literally and spectacularly when the flock escapes a trap by flying across the Gasconade River. This pivotal event is more than a clever solution; it is a confirmation of Simon’s vision, proving that his seemingly simple idea contains an unforeseen and graceful power like that of the birds.