The Eloping of Harry and Ada Mae (symbol)
Harry and Ada Mae's elopement symbolically represents parents' unwillingness to let their daughters marry poor men. Ada Mae is coming from a well-off family with all the essentials and luxuries. However, Harry is living in a dusty ranch that has no water or power connection. Ada Mae's parents are adamant when they learn that she is about to marry Harry. On realizing that Ada Mae's parents cannot allow this marriage, Harry and Ada Mae elope to start their lives elsewhere. The author writes, “Still, her family didn’t want her marrying Harry Day and living on that primitive ranch with no water and power. So, the couple eloped.”
The flat tire (Allegory)
When Sandra is 15 years old, she goes to help her father in the expansive range. Despite being a lady, Sandra drives the range truck, and she often uses it to deliver lunch to his father and the rest of the crew. While on duty to provide lunch, Sandra gets a flat tire, and she spends some time fixing the problem before delivering the food. As soon as she gives the food, she is disappointed that her father is no longer interested in eating because it is past lunch hour. Therefore, the flat tire is a symbolic incidence that represents the significance of keeping time. Sandra realizes her father cannot tolerate anything but on-time lunch. Keeping time was the biggest lesson that Sandra leans from her father, and for the rest of her life, whenever she wants to do anything, she starts in advance to avoid any unseen inconveniences and excuses.
Rathbun as a symbol
Besides Rathbun being a knowledgeable professor, he is a symbolic character because he represents Sandra's inspiration to study law. Rathbun's lectures included the study of the meaning of life and seeing things as they are. Consequently, Rathbun's teaching style and motivation influenced Sandra to choose law as a future career. The author writes, "Inspired by Rathbun, Sandra too set off to study law. Straight her senior year, she managed to condense the three years of graduate study into two, graduating from Stanford Law School in 1952.”
Ruth and Sandra (Symbol)
Both Ruth Bader and Sandra Day O’Connor are symbolic characters because they represent the strength of a woman. The book ‘Sisters in Law by Linda Hirshman is entirely about the lives of these two prominent first women Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Ruth and Sandra grew up in a patriarchal society that valued a boy child more than a girl. Opportunities were given to boys leaving girls behind. After graduating from law school, Sandra and Ruth found it difficult to get job placement because they were female. For instance, whenever Sandra saw a law firms' job adverts, she tried to make phone calls to ask permission for an application, but the answers she received were that those positions were only meant for men. Ruth and Sandra never gave up because they fought so hard until they got jobs as the first women to serve at the Supreme Court. During their tenure, they fought for the rights of women. Consequently, the modern woman in America has equal access to opportunities, thanks to Ruth and Sandra's efforts.
The Marriage between Ruth Bader and Martin Ginsburg
The marriage between Ruth and Martin symbolizes true love. Ruth knows very well that Martin has cancer and his chances of survival are just 10%. However, Ruth remains hopeful that Martin will marry her and their marriage will blossom. Faithful to her belief, Martin lives, and their marriages last for over fifty years.
