Wildlife
Wildlife is a recurrent motif in the novel and it has been demonstrated by alluding towards animals, forest and rural life. The novel even begins with the description of wildlife, the narrator says, “At sunset hour the forest was still, lonely, sweet with tang of fir and spruce, blazing in gold and red and green; and the man who glided on under the great trees seemed to blend with the colors and, disappearing, to have become a part of the wild woodland.” The protagonist of the novel is also a part of wildlife and he does not want to leave the forests at any cost. The animal imagery also highlights this motif as there is a constant appearance of horses, wolf and a cougar.
Ranch
Another important motif in the novel is Al Auchincloss's ranch. Helen and her sister become the owner of their uncle's ranch when he becomes ill. Beasley makes a plot to kidnap the sisters in order to take over the land. The whole story revolves around the ranch. It is the bone of contention in the novel but it also becomes the reason to unite Helen and Milt Dale. Milt saves Helen and her sister from the traps of Beasley and Snake Anson. At first, he refuses Al to look after the land but later on he agrees to come with Helen in order to take care of the land.
West
There is an allegory of the west in the novel, and the west itself has been portrayed as something beautiful but dark. The west has been personified into an entity which controls others. The narrator says, "That was where the West spoke…All of which was to say that as the wildness of the West had made possible his crimes, so it now held him responsible for them." When Wilson helps Bo in getting away from Beasley's trap, the narrator says, "Beasley thus heard the West speak out of the mouth of his own man.” The west has been described as an alive force which possesses the ability to judge others.
Sun Rising
The rising of the sun symbolizes hope and happiness. The symbol has been used on various occasions in the novel. It symbolizes happiness, peace and hope in the lives of Milt, Helen and Bo. The sun rises when Milt saves Helen from the trap of Beasley and Bo saves her from the trap of Snake Anson. The sun also symbolizes Milt Dale who spreads light in the lives of Helen and Bo.
