Rain or Shine...Weather Means More Than You Think

Chapter 9 (It's More Than Just Rain or Snow) explored the greater significance behind all types of weather in literature. There are several different meanings and interpretations of weather like rain, fog, and snow. Something that I found really interesting in this chapter was how Foster pointed out that weather is kind of like the ultimate equalizer in that it affects everyone. Everybody has to endure the same storm, but what happens during the storm and how it changes characters can vary in different stories.

One thing Foster discussed was the duality of rain, how it can be cleansing, or a mess making agent. This reminded me of one of my favorite childhood movies, the Lion King 2: Simba's Pride. For those who aren't familiar with the plot of the movie, the climax of the story is a huge fight between Simba and his lions from Pride Rock, and a rival group of lions from the Outlands. During the fight, it begins to pour down rain and all of the lions get covered in mud. Rethinking about this part of the movie, years after the appropriate age to be watching it, I see the mud as an indicator of the dirty and despicable hatred that has taken over the lives of these two groups. In the end these lions are all the same, and share the same thoughts, problems, and emotions. But the deep-seeded rivalry, like mud, messed up their views of one another, as well as their values of family and community. When the fighting stops and everyone realizes that they are better off together, the rain washes away the mud and both groups of lions return to a very lush, restored looking Pride Rock. 

So rain can dirty things up, or clean and restore life, and sometimes both at one time. We all know the dark and stormy night cliche, but this chapter allowed me to explore why authors put these different kinds of weather in their work. Fog can be a sign of confusion and deceit (i.e. scary monsters emerging from the fog or characters lost and bewildered in a cloud of fog). In this case, weather can add a great deal of suspense to a story. Then we have snow which can have a few different meanings, like rain. There is the classic holiday scene with snow falling outside the window and families gathered around the fire, showing the beauty and cleanliness of snow. But snow can also be cruel and unforgiving like in Stephen King's horror book-turned-movie classic The Shining. Not only is the snowstorm in this book used as a plot device that forces Jack and his family inside the hotel with no escape, the snow and its severity highlights the crazy and extreme person the hotel turned Jack into. In the end the cold, harsh snow brings death to Jack in the final scene. 

There are so many different meanings and uses behind weather in literature. It is a key element of every story that should not go overlooked. So next time you're reading about a dark and stormy night, know that it is dark and stormy for a reason.

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