Bound For Oregon

The Oregon Trail is symbolic of life’s challenges. The trail is roughly 2,000 miles long and spans from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon. Although the trek along the trail terrifies Mary Ellen, Father assures her that “many others are going,” that they therefore will “not be alone,” and that “there are guidebooks to show the way” (10). He’s confident “that, with careful preparations, it [can] be done safely” (10). The way that Father speaks about the Oregon Trail is also the way that he speaks about life. He believes that with a clear mind, a determined spirit, and an open heart, he and his family can overcome life’s obstacles together. This proves true for the Todds. As they make their way along the Oregon Trail they encounter an array of unfamiliar conflicts, including bad weather, no water, sickness, famine, and unpredictable terrain. These conflicts do challenge the Todd family members’ physical safety and emotional well-being. However, they also make the characters stronger, teach them about themselves, and help them to grow. In these ways, the Oregon Trail is an extended metaphor for all of the challenges that the human experience entails.

Mary Ellen’s quilt symbolizes comfort and safety. The quilt is “creamy white with a sprinkling of deep-blue stars” (5). Grandma made it for Mary Ellen, and she sleeps under it every night. Images of the quilt repeat throughout the novel and particularly feature in scenes where Mary Elle feels afraid and confused, anxious and alone. She “huddle[s] under [her] star quilt” in order to ease her internal unrest. The quilt helps Mary Ellen to feel better because it is both familiar and it reminds her of her grandmother. Her grandmother has always made her feel safe in the past. Therefore, when she leaves Grandma behind in Arkansas, she relies on the quilt to remember Grandma and to feel the same security she felt in Grandma’s presence. Mary Ellen cannot often talk to her parents or siblings about how she feels. The quilt therefore helps her to calm down when she can’t vocalize her upset to others.