As part of her American history class, Molly Ayer learns about the Wabanaki Indian custom of “portaging.” “Portaging” literally refers to carrying a canoe or boat and all its contents from one body of water to another, and in the book, this usually means carrying everything one owns to get to a new home. Like Molly and Vivian/Niamh, the people of the Wabanaki Confederation (of which the Penobscot Nation was part) had to “carry their homes on their backs” whenever they had to migrate. As Mr. Reed, Molly’s history teacher explains, “portaging” then partly refers to the process of choosing what to take and what to leave behind as one makes the journey forward in life. Within the context of the novel, “portaging” symbolizes the life journeys of Molly and Vivian and the balance they must both toggle between letting go of the past and holding onto important memories and connections.
Portaging Quotes in Orphan Train
Maybe it’ll be a stretch to find drama in Vivian’s portage – a happy, stable life does not an interesting story make, right? But even the rich have their problems, or so Molly’s heard. It will be her task to extract them.
“Well,” Molly says, “I think the boat represents what you take with you – the essential things – from place to place. And the water – well, I think it’s the place you’re always trying to get to.”
Portaging Symbol Timeline in Orphan Train
