A bird (allegory)
A bird is an allegory which is used to describe a free-spirited person. It is repeatedly mentioned that Kit’s “flowered skirt” gives her a look of some “vivid tropical bird lighted by mistake on a strange shore.” She is the strange one, an outcast whose bizarre behavior is looked upon by solemn Puritans. Though the community doesn’t accept her, there are some men who look at Kit as if she is a bird “for sale,” they think of her as something exotic and entertaining. The problem is that they can’t understand one simple thing: Kit is not meant to live up there, for “the other birds would scold and peck” at her. No matter how hard she tries to be useful, the majority sees her as an intruder.
Seven trunks (symbol)
“Seven trunks” are a symbol of vanity. It has never been a secret that Kit came from a wealthy family, thus people often treat her as if she is an enemy. They think so lowly of her that it takes the girl a lot to persuade them otherwise. As soon as she befriends someone, Kit does or says something careless and this person turns away from her. When people see her “seven trunks” of “clothes” they assume that she is superficial and vain, that beautiful dresses are her only interest. However, they don’t know that Kit packs all her life in that seven trunks, that she runs away from a prospect of a rich life in order to save her freedom. She couldn’t care less about dresses.
Finding home (motif)
Kit is homesick. She does try to settle down and become a member of a community, but fails. Kit starts thinking about going back to Barbados more often than she dares to admit. However, she can’t get rid of that terrible nagging feeling in her soul that is known under the name of loneliness. She comes to a conclusion that “there is no escape if love is not there.” It turns out to be that she doesn’t dream about running away, Kit wants love and love is Nat. When they meet again and both find enough strength and courage to confess their feelings for each other, they find not only love, but home in arms of each other.
