The False Purity of Snow

              In chapter 9 “It’s More Than Just Rain or Snow”, Foster emphasizes how weather is never just weather and how it carries great symbolic meaning. Authors often use weather in literature by writing about rain, snow, sun, rainbows, and other forms of weather to enhance the meaning of the story. For example, when an author uses a flood in his writing it can be a biblical analogy to Noah’s Ark. People are always scared of drowning, which Foster mentions, so a flood brings with it fear and dread. The flood destroys everything in its path, but it also could lead to a fresh start.

               Rain can be used in a variety of ways, such as to cleanse a character and to transform a character. The cleanliness of the rain can wash away a character’s anger, frustration, confusion, or whatever the author may choose. Rain can also be restorative, and bring new growth to the world. In “The Notebook”, a movie created based on the best selling novel by Nicholas Sparks (which let’s be honest, who under the age of 30 actually read the book?) Noah and Allie are separated for many years after being in love, are at a transitioning stage of coming back into each other’s lives, which was very difficult and straining for both of them. In the scene where they both in the boat out on the lake while starts pouring down rain, the rain metaphorically cleanses them and allows them to rid any doubt of which they were not still in love with each other. This realization might not have been as effective as it was or might not have happened without the cleansing rain, allowing them to be together again.

               Snow can almost represent anything the author wants such as clean, purity, inviting, etc. Snow also can lead to death, or it can simply symbolize vast nothingness.  An example of snow is used in “The Hunger Games” trilogy, written by Susanne Collins, by the character President Snow. He is the primary antagonist of the book series, though seemingly laid-back, his demeanor hides a merciless and aggressive character. Throughout the books, the exposure of President Snow’s false purity is revealed. Another example of false purity is in “The Great Gatsby”. Despite her beauty and charm, Daisy is merely a selfish, shallow, and hurtful, woman. Gatsby loves her (or at least the idea of her) with such vitality and determination that readers would like to see her be worthy of his devotion. Although Fitzgerald builds Daisy's character with associations of light, purity, and innocence, she is the opposite from what she presents herself to be.
                I think it is very interesting that authors are not constricted to only use weather as just weather, but can also incorporate it into characters. I had never really come into the thought process while reading a book or watching a movie that weather can actually be more than what it was written to be, however, it is more than just rain or snow sir.