Walk 2 Moons Symbolism
By: Kaitlyn Taylor
Summary of Novel
Thesis Statement
Throughout the novel, Walk 2 Moons, Sharon Creech uses symbolism to show more depth of Sal's feelings and her life.
Symbol 1: Hair
One of the symbols that is in the novel multiple times is hair. One of the times this symbol was used was when he dad was looking at a photograph of Sal's parents and her mother's hair looks like it is connected to her father's head. But before her mom leaves for Lewiston, Ohio, she cuts her hair and her father begs Sal not to cut her hair either. Later in the novel, it says Sal keeps her mom's hair with her. "My mother's postcards and hair are still beneath the floorboards in my rom." (Creech 278). This symbol represents connection. Through out the story it shows the bond between Sal and her mother. When Sal's mom left she cut her hair because there was no connection anymore and Sal's dad didn't want to her to cut her hair because she didn't want her to leave either. She keeps her mom's hair in the floorboards because she is still connected with her mother and she isn't ready to let go of her mother yet.
Symbol 2: Trees
Another symbol used throughout Walk 2 Moons is trees. The very first time trees popped up was when they moved to Euclid and Sal asked her father, "This is were we're gonna live?" (Creech 1). She said this because there wasn't many trees in Euclid. They moved because Sal's mom was haunting them at their farm, so they moved where she couldn't haunt them. Salamanca's middle name is Tree, which her mother named her. (Creech 7). Another time trees were used was when Sal prayed to trees, like spirits, while she was on the road trip to see her mother's grave. She did this because she said, "It's easier than praying directly to God. There was nearly always a tree nearby." (Creech 7). One of the final times trees are mentioned was when Sal visits her mothers grave and says, "She's still singing in the trees."(Creech 268) when the man tells her he's sorry for her loss. She said this as if she was still with her somehow. Therefore, trees represent her mother. When they went to Euclid, she meant where is my mother, not where are the trees. She was praying to spirits or trees, like her mother since she is passed away and a spirit now. When she means she's still singing in the trees, she means she still with them, no matter if she's living or dead. Most of the times trees are used as a symbol, her mom is related to them.