Corsets

Corsets represent the disadvantaged position of women in society before the war. When Emily and the land girls first arrive at their training and are given their uniforms, they all take off their corsets and declare that they are making a stand for freedom. For the first time, these women feel as though—as they put on the trousers of their uniforms—that they are contributing to the war effort and are independent like men.

The Bird in the Gilded Cage

The song with the lyrics “only a bird in a gilded cage” symbolizes the way that Emily perceives herself and her life (2). Growing up in a sheltered and privileged home under strict parents, she identifies with the bird that is imprisoned in a cage that is beautiful in appearance but restrictive in nature. When she leaves home and joins the land girls, she feels as...