Handful's Name Symbol
Handful's name is a symbol in of itself. It was given to her because of her tiny size when she was born but it also symbolizes her character as she is a "Handful" to control and manage and her spirit is untamable.
Charlotte's Quilt Symbol
The quilt is symbolic of many things to different people. To Charlotte, the quilt is a symbol of freedom and her secret pursuit of it. For years she has been working hard and saving every spare penny so that she can buy freedom for Handful and herself. She hides this money inside the quilt and so it becomes a literal symbol of her freedom.
Handful Finishing the Quilt
Handful has no idea there is money hidden inside the fabric of the quilt but to her it symbolizes her mother's return. She finishes the quilt so that she can show Charlotte what a good seamstress she has become and this in turn symbolizes her hope and belief that Charlotte will return one day to see it.
South Symbol
Throughout the novel, whenever Sarah wants to escape prejudice and work towards abolition of slavery she goes up north. To Sarah the South symbolizes oppression and the abuse of both authority and slaves. The North symbolizes hope and a future without slavery and this is the place that she runs to.
Marriage Symbol
Sarah is in love with Israel and thrilled when he proposes marriage; however she turns him down because she is dedicated to her abolitionist mission and marriage to Sarah symbolizes the constraining of women and the curtailing of her ability to decide for herself what she wants to do and how she wishes to behave.
