The Voyage Out follows the character of Rachel, who undergoes a transformation in the novel. At first, she is depicted as an unintelligent and unthinking young woman, but by the end of the novel, she has become more independent and individualistic. This outcome is achieved by several means, including encouragement from those around her, a confrontation with challenging events such as climbing up a mountain, and also some complex discussions. For example, Helen and Mr. Hirst encourage Rachel to think critically about her religious faith and tell her to challenge her core beliefs instead of passively accepting them from other people. Rachel's independence is symbolized by the fact she confronts Helen, telling her that she relies too much on her intellect, and must be more open with her emotions. At this, Helen smiles and is proud of the fact that Rachel has strongly asserted her opinions.
Rachel's transformation and development are symbolized in several ways in the text. Firstly, the journey itself from London to South America metaphorically represents Rachel's own spiritual journey to find her identity. Additionally, the yellow butterflies in South America are focused on, which are also symbols of transformation and development.
Music is a key aspect of the text, as Rachel feels most herself when she is playing the piano. She initially laments how people around her never act how they want to or say what they truly feel. Her response to this is to think of them as abstract "symbols," or as actors on a stage. She also responds by playing the piano in order to escape, stating that music is the only form of expression where people truly say what they mean. Later, Rachel plays the piano at a party and notices how the people who have been so careful to restrain themselves begin to open up. This, therefore, strengthens her opinion that music is the route to truth and authenticity.
