Most people view rain or muggy weather as a low or sad scene. Although rain can be used to create this kind of scene, rain has other meaning when used in literature as Foster expresses in this chapter.
People associate rain with gloom because of the way rain makes people feel, but rain also has a positive effect on people and in nature. Its positive effect is growth. Whether it be portrayed by plants becoming greener or growing taller or people getting a day to reflect on their lives.
In literature rain's effects depend more on the character's reaction to the rain rather than the fact that it's just rain. One could dance in the rain while another might hide in their home all day. For example, in the movie Singing in the Rain, Don Lockwood sings and dances in the rain after being with Kathy. He dances and sings to express his joy for a new found love between Kathy and himself. Don is also excited about being a singing and dancing star now. The rain in this movie represents a new beginning. It represents Don's fresh start on achieving what he wants like singing and dancing and getting the girl. This rain in this film definitely doesn't represent sadness or gloom but instead represents happiness and newness. What one considers as bad weather, another could consider wonderful weather therefore weather does not just define the scene but also sets the characters in the scene.
Like Foster said, rain also carries the plot along. It adds a little drama to the story and forces characters to come together through need or realization. Rain represents washing or cleansing. This could mean physical cleansing through the fresh water or mental cleansing. Rain causes people to think. Most people enjoy the sound of rain and love to fall asleep to it. Why? It means calmness, a new beginning just like the great flood that takes place in the bible. In Daniel Marois’ article over biblical symbolism of rain, she describes that rain was seen as harsh and deathly in the story of Noah’s Ark but also represents new beginnings. This is portrayed by God telling Noah to build an ark for his and other’s safety. Noah follows his command and builds the ark. Shortly after, God wipes out the earth with a massive flood. Noah, his family, and other animals survive the flood. After the flood ends, God shows a huge rainbow. This rainbow represents the newness of the land and that God will always give one a fresh start or chance. The rainbow represents a promise, a finishing statement. It is the figure that people look forward to. It’s the light at the end of the tunnel, a signal saying everything will be okay.
Rain doesn’t only represent bad or gloomy scenes but can also represent happy times or new beginnings. Rain can mean a variety of things in literature and is commonly used for setting the mood, characters, and plot.
http://www.examiner.com/article/the-biblical-symbolism-of-rain
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