Catherine's Nails

Catherine's nails symbolize when she is, and when she isn't, living the life she's meant to lead. When they are clean as when she plays the piano and comes back from the summer in Montana, she's not. When they are dirty as they are when she's on the dig in London and when she's in Montana, she is.

Catherine's Rucksack

Catherine's rucksack symbolizes the life of adventure that she wants to live as opposed to the safe, privileged life into which she was born.

David

David represents society's view of the life a girl like Catherine is supposed to lead in the 1950s. Even though she's well educated, she's expected to marry a man of good stock with a good education who has a good job and can take care of her. Catherine's rejection of him symbolizes her rejection of that kind of life.

John H's Saddle