Rinoa Heartilly is Squall's platonic ideal.  She is his inspiration to try to save the world.  Squall cannot live without her, and at one point in the story, must save her from Sorceress Adel.  Her kind, positive personality has changed Squall's cold heart and given him the courage to trust in another human being.

All symbols connected to Rinoa are angelic.  Her magic skills involve her growing angel wings.  She has a pet dog named "Angelo".  On the back of her dress, she has small wings.  The opening sequence of the game sets her in a field with blue skies (associated with heaven) and flying white feathers.  Her last name symbolizes her kindness.

Rinoa can be compared to Columbia in Phillis Wheatley's "To His Excellency General Washington".  Columbia is American personified as a woman.  She, like Rinoa, is the inspiration for the hero.  Symbols connected to Columbia (gold, skies) are also heavenly and angelic:

The goddess comes, she moves divinely fair,
Olive and laurel binds her golden hair:
Wherever shines this native of the skies,
Unnumber'd charms and recent graces rise.

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