Feathers

Bird feathers –especially from wild pigeons –are seen throughout the novel. Symbolically, they represent flight and freedom in some instances, and imprisonment and death, ironically, in others. In the Seneca Indian story, feathers are followed as a path in life, with feathers representing choices and freedom. Agatha is later observed to be following her path in life, feather by feather, in free flight to make her own choices. Georgie later comes across a mass of feathers while pursuing her sister’s trail. The area had previously been a camp not for pigeoners, but for city-based hunters interested in the birds only for their carcasses. The birds have been trapped and wrongfully exploited in this instance, and their feathers represent, in irony, that which could not save them –flight.

Pigeons

Pigeons, especially wild pigeons, are frequently seen in the novel as symbols of freedom and flight. Agatha...