Allegory of Ellen's Baby Cow Drinking Milk
Laura had to help their cow Ellen's baby calf learn to drink milk. Since the calf was born knowing it had to butt its head hard to get milk, the calf butted the pail filled with milk. Most of the milk fell out of the pail. Some did, however, make it inside the calf. This natural instinct of the cow shows the underlying meaning that the young must be taught to do things the right way against instinct. This is often difficult and takes much time.
Allegory of Mary's Attitude Towards Blindness
Laura's older sister, Mary, was blind. She was lighthearted and always offered to do the housework when the rest of the family members had to do work in the garden. This shows the underlying meaning that those who deal with struggles take life for granted more than those who have life easy.
Symbolism of Pa's New Steel Plow
Pa's new steel plow created much happiness throughout the family because pa was not as tired as he normally was from farming. This shows the symbol of the new technology that was being created in the late 1800s and how it positively affected the lives of frontier families.
Symbolism of the Buffalo Wallow
Near the homestead of the Ingalls family was a buffalo wallow. The wallow was perfectly round and deep like a dish. It was also filled with warm violets that created a deep perfume in the air. Laura and Mary stopped in the wallow on an afternoon walk after they had previously talked about the goodness of God. The wallow is a symbol for the goodness and perfection of God. The violets and their perfume suggest that God made the world good and that it is perfect untouched by human hands.
Motif of the Dakota Prairie
Laura Ingalls and her family live on the open Dakota Prairie. The family enjoys nature and the stillness of life around them. Life on the prairie, however, is tough. The family moves to town because of the tough winter that faced the Dakotas that would have been much harder on the homestead. The family realizes that living in town is easier than on the prairie. On the other hand, living in town makes the family feel trapped and unfulfilled. This motif of the Dakota Prairie contrasted with town life suggests that although times may be harder when you only depend on yourself, they are more fulfilling and enjoyable.
