After reading Chapter 10 of Thomas C. Foster’s book How to Read Literature Like a Professor I gained a new perspective on weather’s role in literature; as it is a symbol not just part of the plot. Now that I had read Foster’s lecture I searched my brain for novels I had read where weather was used as a symbol. I stumbled across one novel in particular that used weather as a symbol of the events occurring in the main characters life. The novel was This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The main character was Amory Blaine.
In the beginning of the book it follows Amory in his early teen years. The event that occurs is Amory’s first kiss. Fitzgerald places great emphasis on the weather devoting an entire paragraph to the weather’s description.
“Overhead the sky was half crystalline, half misty, and the night around was chill and vibrant with rich tension. From the Country Club steps the road stretched away, dark creases on the white blanket; huge heaps of snow lining the sides like the tracks of giant moles. They lingered for a moment on the steps, and watched the white holiday moon.”
Every story needs a setting but the devotion of a whole paragraph dedicated to the weather of the setting is a red flag to the weather’s importance in the event. In this case the weather does not only dictate the plot but also in itself signifies the events that are occurring. From the perspective of plot one could say the cold temperatures force Amory and his will be first kiss into a cozy parlor in front of a fire place. This perspective still does not account for an entire paragraph about weather because it is understood that in the winter in Minnesota people do not liger outside for long. So what does Fitzgerald really trying to express? First, Fitzgerald describes the sky. The sky represents the dates timeline as half of the date was already over it was crystallized solid and therefore could never be changed. On the other hand half of the evening remained. The future half is represented by the misty half of the night sky as the future of where the date will go is ambiguous. Second, Fitzgerald foreshadows the future describing the white blanket of snow and the white moon. White is a color synonymous with virginity and purity. Just as the white blanket of snow had never been touched neither Amory nor his date had ever kissed.
Weather as shown above does not have to directly influence the plot of the story instead it can also foreshadow and symbolize events. So the next time you are engrossed in a novel make sure you check the weather.
