Maternal Vigilance

        This image is about one mother duck being vigilant and on the lookout for predators in order for her to defend her children. The mother duck is standing tall and erect with a focused look into the sky, which is contrasted with her little ducking’s resting or looking in every direction not focused on anything else because they know their mother will keep them safe. This image is on the first page of Harper’s Weekly, which is emphasizing security. Likewise, the image could be symbolizing the ‘motherland’ of America. Therefore, this image is representing the fears and anxieties that America has and that by uniting America the people don’t have to fear as their ‘motherland’ will protect them from “the face of the enemy” (Harper’s Weekly 384) like the duck is doing in the photo. This is particularly interesting as Rachel is actually mourning her own mother, which leaves her without someone looking after her. Also, Rachel recalls that “… I remember that [my mother] had tried hard that evening, to persuade me to let her take charge of my Diamond” (Collins 343). Thus, Lady Verinder was trying to protect Rachel by trying to look after her diamond.