Snow? Oh no!

      For the most part, when the weather is calm, we don't think about it. I have yet to hear anyone complain because it's too sunny and mild outside. We go on with out lives. In chapter 9, "It's More Than Just Rain or Snow," Foster tells us that weather in literature can indicate or provide contrast against the mood of the piece. Bad weather can push people together. Thinking about tumultuous storm clouds, my  mind is drawn to the Wizard of Oz, with the small farm shaken around by the tornado. It can make you stay home, cancel plans, or run for shelter. It can also separate people, if the weather is too severe for them to meet. The section about the cleansing effects of rain reminded me of a religious ceremony- almost like baptism. Rain in a book can either reflect the mood or create the mood. It seems that when things hit rock bottom, and can't get any worse, it starts pouring. And that's when the lightning starts.
      Back to English II required reading, the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, weather plays a significant role in the creepiness of the novel. I remember that throughout the book, the sky stayed foggy and grey. When there is fog and rain and clouds, it gets dark. Especially since street lamps were in their infancy. I bet dark in 1800's England is about as dreary as it can get. The dark is a symbol of the unknown. We're not afraid of the dark itself, but rather what lurks in the realm beyond what we're able to see. In this case, the quality of the weather deepened the dark mood.
      When I think of rain, I can easily picture a woman crying outside during a storm, with her makeup running down her face. Like in that sappy movie The Notebook. In those cases, it's almost like the sky is sympathizing with the downtrodden woman and cries with her.
      In the last few pages of the Catcher in the Rye, Holden stands out in the pouring rain watching his sister Phoebe ride the carousel. This rain is a kind of cleansing rain. It could mean a fresh start. For once in the book, Holden doesn't feel like complaining. He's almost indifferent to the water. He is at peace and has found some state of happiness.
      The first big weather significance I can think of in television is from House, M.D. Because of the infarction he suffered in his right thigh, for House, rain or snow means pain.Whenever the weather is bad, we see him inside. He cannot risk slipping outside as water, a cane, and a painful disability don't mix well. The one time we do see him in the pouring rain is during the days when the Ketamine treatment has temporarily cured him. We then see him running through the rain in nostalgia and joy. Too bad it doesn't last. But then again, if our favorite characters were always happy and keeping themselves out of trouble, there wouldn't be anything interesting to watch.