How does the author use symbolism in the novel, Abigail?

Often referred to as a fortress throughout the novel, the author uses Matula as a symbol of both a prison and a sanctuary. When Gina first arrives at the Matula, the first thing she notices is that it resembles a fortress more than a school, with its iron bars across the windows and entrance (18). As she struggles to fit in, finds herself censored by the staff, and fails to escape, she views it as a suffocating prison. She begins to perceive it as a refuge after signs of the war raging outside start to manifest inside the walls of the school — for example, during the air-raid practice, or when Feri attempts to trick her into leaving with him. Finding herself frightened and confused by the deceit and chaos outside the walls of the Matula, Gina comes to appreciate the order and predictability of the world inside the school.