Early in the novel, Mononotto ponders the nature of a leafless tree. It reminds him of the state of his own tribe, and, perhaps, the eventual fate of all Indians. A tree has the potential to be strong, ancient, towering, and awe-inspiring, but all it takes is an axe, or a storm, or a blight of disease or insects to turn the mightiest tree into a ruin. 

The sign of the cross is presented as cause for alarm in Hope Leslie. Despite being an emblem of Christianity, its use by Catholics is anathema to the Protestants. When Faith, wearing a cross, is reunited with Hope for a brief time, her conversion to Catholicism is nearly as shocking to Hope as her marriage to Oneco, an Indian. Sir Philip is undone by the untimely appearance of the crucifix in the jail cells, showing that it can only cause trouble for all who come into contact with it. 

Magawisca sacrifices her arm for Everell’s life. Her resulting deformity is hid beneath cloaks and dresses. The loss of her arm is indicative of her separation from Everell and the life they shared together. It is also analogous to a castration or any other bodily loss of power.