The wagon the Duke gifts Sallie symbolizes Sallie’s individuality and strength. Sallie’s evolving connection with the wagon serves as a metaphor for her personal journey, encapsulating her aspirations and the hurdles she encounters along the way. The wagon’s name, Defiance Coaster, emblazoned with bold black and red letters, reflects Sallie’s determination to challenge conventions and break free from societal constraints. When Sallie recounts how driving the wagon along with the Duke made her feel invincible, it reinforces the idea that the wagon symbolizes her admiration for the Duke and her willingness to confront life’s challenges head-on. As Sallie practices driving the wagon, her increasing skill reflects her growing self-confidence and belief in her abilities. The wagon becomes her only loyal companion, as “most days, it’s just [Sallie] and the Defiance Coaster” (11).

The wagon also symbolizes Sallie’s deep-rooted yearning for freedom, autonomy, and the opportunity to forge her own destiny. Driving it triggers a visceral emotional response in Sallie, with her “heart thumping hard” (10) like never before, underscoring its impact on her sense of self, her perception of attainable dreams, and her quest to break free from the confines that have shaped her life. Sallie’s statement that “getting the right to vote was well and good, but it’s cars and roads that have done the most to change things for women” (241) reveals the significance of the wagon as a symbol of women’s emancipation from societal restrictions.