Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
As a teenager, Kit is searching for her true identity. How will she come to define herself in relation to the society in which she lives? One of the metaphors the novel offers us to think about Kit’s role in Connecticut Colony is that of a tropical flower transplanted to a cold climate. Hannah offers the image in a story she tells about a gift that Nat brought her:
"My friend brought the bulb to me, a little brown thing like an onion. I doubted it would grow here but it just seemed determined to keep on trying and look what has happened." (9.78)
The story seems to suggest that Kit can thrive in New England with just a little perseverance. Is Hannah right? Can Kit adjust to the Connecticut soil?