End of slavery
A recurrent motif that appears in the novel is the idea that the former slaves have no clue on what to do after they are released from their masters. Having lived all their life doing what the others told them to do; they suddenly had to decide for themselves. This shift was hard for many and some chose to remain with their old masters and continue working for them as a result of this.
Choosing her own name
The moment when Jane decides that she wants to be called Miss Jane is a moment where she rebels against her masters. As a salve, she had no control over her life and she could decide nothing for herself. When Jane decides to change her name, she tries to be independent and do something that only the masters did until then. Because of this, Jane’s act is seen as being a symbol that stands for her desire to be free.
Realization
Soon after Jane is freed, she encounters a white lady returning to her lands with her slaves. The lady offers to take Jane and Ned with her but Jane refuses, telling her how her former masters killed her mother while she was still young. When Jane leaves, the white lady starts crying, realizing that while she treated her slaves humanely, others have not any many slaves suffered because of it. The lady’s tear symbolizes her realization about the fact that she supported a brutal system and a racist society.
Safe place
The children’s home where Jane and Ned are taken symbolizes safety for many black children who suddenly found themselves without a stable home. There, they received food, clothing and the education they needed. But for Jane, the children’s home represented another form of enslavement. There, she had to comply with what the others told her to do and she was no longer free to do whatever she wanted. Because of this, she refused to stay there because while it offered her safety, it also took her liberty.
Going back
A recurrent motif found in the novel from the beginning till its end is the idea that Jane and Ned should either return to their old masters or find new ones. For many who encountered Jane and Ned, those two options were the only possible options Ned and Jane had. With no family to take care of them, no masters to provide them with clothing, food or a roof over their head, the two children seemed to be defenseless in a cruel world that doesn’t care about the future of their former slaves. Because of this, for many the option of returning to their old masters seemed to be their only option.
