Airplanes

Airplanes symbolize Valencia’s fear of death and change. Outwardly, Valencia feels as though she cannot get on a plane because of the various ways she could die, but she is also afraid of how travel would disrupt the routine of her life.

Highways

Highways also symbolize Valencia’s fear of death and change, in a more condensed way. Throughout the novel, Valencia’s mother pleads with her to visit her and her dying grandmother, but Valencia cannot overcome the distance to travel there.

Travel

Travel, in a broader sense, is a symbol of hope for change. In Mrs. Valentine’s story, she imagines traveling to different places where she was always too afraid to go as Valencia.

New York

New York represents a goal for Valencia and Mrs. Valentine. Mrs. Valentine imagines going to New York, Valencia nearly plans to go there, and, in the...