The Mall
The mall, of course, is the location where their mother abandons her children and as such it might be viewed as a symbol of maternal irresponsibility or loss. A key word used to frame the experience of the now all-but-orphaned siblings points to something different, however. The interior of the mall is described as a “fairyland” and “miniature city” overflowing with colors, smells, sounds and activity. In this sense, the mall becomes a symbol of the normalcy of everyday life that most taken for granted that these kids have never known. Normality for the brothers and sisters might as well be Oz.
Boats
Boat are kind of an ironic symbol for Dicey. She is one of those who feel the siren call of the sea and is at her most comfortable and serene when sailing. This seems counterintuitive because a boat offers no firm ground beneath one, putting a person at even greater risk for the vagaries of nature to control one’s destiny. Since Dicey’s entire life fits this particular model, one would expect she would prefer the much more dependable nature of terra firm beneath her feet. That she loves boats and is drawn to the sea despite is turbulent instability is symbolically indicative of the nature of her character: she will simply not give in to instability but will rather remain fiercely determined to best it and take control of her own fate.
Songs and Music
Throughout the narrative the kids sing songs. Maybeth is particularly gifted with a singing voice, just like her mother. Although the nature of the songs themselves and the stimulation to sing certain choices lend an immediate and ever-changing narrow symbolism, it is that connection to their mother which endows this symbol with its expansive meaning. In the absence of their mother and the eventual discovery that she is never going to be able to come back to them, music is the most potent emotional connection they have to keeping the family loosely tethered to the woman who gave them life.
Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle is entirely absent from the story until the kids finally arrive at the home of their grandmother. For the next thirty or so pages, it is suddenly almost omnipresent. It is introduced through personification that endows it with a kind of human characterization: it has taken over the ramshackle house and seems in no mood to let go. The tenacity of honeysuckle which carries connotations of sweetness is eventually presented as a parasitic infestation that comes to symbolize the bitterness which Gram allowed to grow inside her and take control as the consequence of a distressed marital situation.
Cold Hard Cash
It is money—or rather the lack of it—which finally pushes their mother past the point of no return: unable to pay her bill and finding no relief, she can see no other way than to abandon her family. From the point that Dicey steps up to take over the role of mother as well as sister, Dicey obsesses over finances. Though determined to keep the family intact and, if possible, even happy, she is sophisticated enough to realize that good intentions and hard work can only take them so far.
Life is a money-go-round and whatever problems anyone has is always exacerbated when accompanied by street and anxiety over simply having enough money to meet necessities. The implicit question here applies to the entire narrative: would their mother’s mental illness have reached the state of being deemed “incurable” had lack of economic independence not been a contributing factor? Economic inequality rises to become the symbol of the massive divide capable of keeping an unloving family together while tearing loving families apart.
