Metaphor for freedom
In the beginning of the novel, Miss Jane remembers the moment when they were freed and the sound of the bell that called them back from the fields. If in the past, the bell was associated with the end of a work-day, from that point it became a metaphor for freedom, signaling the end of their slavery.
Metaphor for safety
While Jane stumbles across many places and people who could offer her safety and what she needs, she considers that Ohio is the only place where she will be able to find those things. Because of this, Ohio is seen as being a metaphor for safety, the only place where Jane will find what she is looking for.
Metaphor for humanity
When one thinks about the time in history when slavery was legal and widely spread it is usually associated with the suffrage of the black community and the cruelty of the white population. But the novel proves that this wasn’t entirely true. During their journey, Jane and Ned were often helped by white people who didn’t necessarily have much money. Job in particular is used as being a metaphor for humanity. He helped Jane and Ned and even lied to protect them while also knowing that he risk losing his own life is he were to be caught.
Metaphor for the American society
After Ned’s death, Miss Jane begins to work on another plantation owned by a Mr. Samson. Mr. Samson has two sons: a legitimate black son and an illegitimate black son who while it is not legally recognized by his father, the men working on the plantation know about his parentage. Mr. Samson’s sons represent the American society. Just as Samson’s sons are brothers despite their different skin color, all the men and women living in America should behave like brothers and sisters. The relationship between the two brothers also shows that skin color should not stop someone from treating a person with another skin color with dignity and respect.
Horse
While Jane is at Mr. Samson’s plantation, one of his sons puts her one day on a wild horse and lets the horse free. Miss Jane miraculously holds on and survives without a scratch. While the horse scene has primarily a humorous effect, it is also used in a metaphorical sense. In many ways, Jane’s life has been a wild horse ride but she managed to survive by stubbornly holding on and refusing to give up. In both cases, Jane is able to hold on and move on with her life.
