Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
As an orphan, Kit is on a journey to find a new home, and the Great Meadows represent that place for her. The Meadows are the one place that Kit feels like she belongs in Wethersfield:
As they came out from the shelter of the trees and the Great Meadows stretched before them, Kit caught her breath. She had not expected anything like this. From that first moment, in a way she could never explain, the Meadows claimed her and made her their own. As far as she could see they stretched on either side, a great level sea of green, broken here and there by a solitary graceful elm. Was it the fields of sugar cane they brought to mind, or the endless reach of the ocean to meet the sky? Or was it simply the sense of freedom and space and light that spoke to her of home? (8.7)
The wide open spaces remind Kit of Barbados, bringing her a sense of peace. It is also in the Meadows that Kit meets Hannah, teaches Prudence to read, and interacts with Nat. The Meadows is associated with these people, making it a much stronger symbol of home.
Bonus Round: Why do the Meadows “claim” Kit? Who else do they claim?