The Ferry to the Island

Tara takes a ferry to the island. The ferry represents a journey, It is the vehicle that allows Tara to take her journey across life to explore and find what she needs to cross into adulthood.

Bears

The island is full of bears. These creatures represent several contrasting elements in the novel. Bears hibernate and then wake up, or come back to life. Rejuvenation takes place. This is what happens to Tara. She feels as if she cannot breathe when she decides to go to Alaska. The island rejuvenates her.

A bear also represents a warrior, which reflects Tara’s boxing spirit. She fights to get what she wants.

Finally, the bear symbolizes the danger caused by the unconscious. Tara’s bosses often refer to her as a liability. It is her unconsciousness that causes her to lash out. The same can...