Birds

Birds symbolize freedom in this novel. The idea of a bird as an animals elicits the image of something that can fly anywhere it wants. Birds in a cage are limited and prevented from venturing out. Early on in the novel, Ruth watches Mr. Bell walk away from her, and she watches him depart as, “The shadow of a bird crosses his back. He doesn’t even see it, doesn’t know how lucky he is, free as that bird” (50). Mr. Bell is not tied down to the orphanage. Mr. Bell can go anywhere he pleases. This is very different from Ruth and Nat who are pinned down to Church of Christ! Mr. Bell recognizes this difference when he asks Ruth a question of her freedom, wording it as, "But you already are locked up. Aren’t you, dear?” (63). Mr. Bell wants to feee Ruth and...