Ruth's Photo

The last photo on Ruth’s roll of film, that she leaves at the Ready Rapid, serves as a symbol for her desire to share her life with her daughter. While Ruth was forced to leave the town, in order to preserve her autonomy and love for her daughter, she still wants to be a part of Vera’s life. Ruth returns in order to encourage Vera to question the town’s traditions, the disappearances, and her pre-prescribed role as a mother. The photo guides Vera away from the patriarchal traditions of her youth in the same manner that her mother’s love metaphorically guides her to discover that she can exist as both an individual and a mother.

The Seagull

The seagull that alights in the town symbolizes the unknown world elsewhere. In the same manner that the townspeople are suspicious of the bird...