Fly Away Peter is a book written in unique poetic style, it uses overwhelming sensual images and symbolism to convey many themes and questions of "life". One of the most prevalent themes in the text is the idea that change is inevitable. The author, David Malouf, through his highly intricate and complex characters, the continuity of life, contrasting themes of life and death, dramatic setting transitions and the turmoil of war expresses the inevitability of change and the journey of its acceptance.
The three central characters of the book Jim, Ashley and Imogen are all opposed to change in some way, this is evident through their attachment and security within the boundaries of the sanctuary. They were content with their lives and wanted to hang on to things just as they were at a particular point in time. This is apparent when observing Jim's desperate need to document and name every bird he sees; hence the birds become a permanent fixture for him. However despite this resistance to change Malouf portrays the underlying message that indeed, "Everything changed. The past would not and could not be held". The idea of change stresses the notion of Jim's that "Nothing counted." There was no use in giving things permanency, because in the end, they would all disappear or be replaced with something else, thus continuing the cycle of life.
Through implying that change is inevitable Malouf also suggests that human existence is predetermined or controlled by some higher power. This is illustrated quite early in the text, where Malouf in his writing suggests that life is continuous, the continuity of life is also related to the inevitability of change, being that in order for life to go on one must learn to adapt and cope with change. " the dunlin broke barriers in order to survive the Ice Age, it hasn't kept the same way forever it has adapted." Malouf demonstrates that while individual life is short and sacred, life itself is perpetual.
