The giraffes are literal animals in this story, but they symbolize important messages, one of which is emotional connection. Woodrow is mesmerized by the giraffes’ eyes and finds in their being a meaningful connection between souls. Red also experiences this when she falls asleep on Wild Boy, symbolizing that animals are a safe and gentle space. The giraffes are a metaphorical motivation. Though Woodrow’s job is to literally get them across the country, the metaphor behind this journey is about Woodrow’s self-discovery and growth.

A major element to the American ethos is the adventure of road trips. The romanticism of the road, of the ability to travel between states that are like different countries, is inherent in American culture. This ethos was first developed through Western Expansion and Manifest Destiny, ideas that encouraged the importance of forging new roads and settling new states. Historical events like the Great Migration and the Dust Bowl emphasized the value of hitting the road, in which the road symbolized the bright possibility for a new future. Similarly, in this novel, the literal road, the literal act of travel, is symbolic because it is fundamental to Woodrow’s character development.