Toliver's Secret

The snuffbox baked into the bread loaf that Ellen carries is a symbol of resistance. More specifically, it signifies Ellen’s developing strength and self-confidence and how average people can play important roles in historical moments.

When Grandfather instructs Mother on how to bake the bread, he says: “Bake it crisp and brown, Abby, with a good strong crust. It has a long way to travel” (4). The strength of the bread helps it safely contain the secret it carries. Throughout the novel, the bread is stolen by several people, bitten by a pig, and dropped in a river, yet the strength of its crust keeps the secret within the snuffbox safe. After Ellen gets it out of the river, she notes that the bread is “soggy, but the good strong crust had held its shape” (119). The bread’s strong exterior keeps it safe.

Though Ellen feels vulnerable and afraid inside, she too must develop a strong exterior to carry out her mission successfully. Higgins gives her advice on how to deal with fear. He says, “Being afraid is nothing to be ashamed of. […] But when something has to be done […], don’t wonder and wonder about being afraid.