AP Lit Post #4: Under the Umbrella

        As Foster says - "It's More Than Just Rain or Snow". In his 10th chapter, he talks about the impact of weather on the story at hand. As I was reading Little Women, I noticed I great deal of things implied through specific forms of precipitation. For one thing, the snow. At the beginning of the book, the four sisters are all in their teens and living at home with their mother. It is Christmas time, and the family is poor, so the daughters try to scrape together some warm family memories without the use of money. The snow outside brings with it feelings of poverty and struggle, as the girls must bear their burdens and learn how to live with little luxury. In other parts of the novel, however, the snow carries feelings of fun and laughter, as the girls (and their friend Laurie next door) experience new adventures and fun times, regardless of the frozen world outside.
        One of the most vivid representations I found of the impact of weather on the story is in a chapter near the end of the book, called "Under the Umbrella". This scene stands out in my mind as there is never much mention of rain throughout the novel until it comes to pass. There is one little scene where Amy, the youngest daughter, has to run home in the rain with her drawing sketches getting drenched after a rather unpleasant day, but other than that, there is only one scene that deliberately includes rain.
        It begins with the second oldest daughter, Jo, is walking into town to shop (although she may have ulterior motives, as her "friend" the professor has business there). Once she gets into town, it starts pouring, and she realizes with regret that she forgot an umbrella. She is tempted to stop by the building where the professor should be to ask for an umbrella, but she thinks better of it and continues walking, regardless of the water pouring down around her. As she is walking, she finds herself under a taller person's umbrella, and looking up, is shocked to see none other than the professor himself. Now, Jo is the one sister who never thought she would find true love as she had never loved anyone like that before. Her hard outer shell made it nearly impossible for any man to find their way into her heart. However, drenched in the rain and standing in the shelter of the professor's umbrella, she comes to realize that she does have a man who she cares for more than just a friend. As the two of them walk towards her house in the pouring rain, the truth spills out that they love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together. Absorbed in their new-found love, they forget to catch a carriage or bus and simply walk home in the rain, both of them soggy and dirt covered, but happier than ever before.
        As this is the only true "rain scene" within the novel, it truly is significant. Jo was the last sister to find what made her happy, and the last loose end was tied up with the rain. The rain within this scene was definitely more than just rain. It created a background that suggested something important was about to happen, as it did. The rain falling around Jo and the professor's umbrella brought about a change in their characters, unveiling the outer shell around Jo and exposing them both for who they were inside. It shed all of the two characters' doubt and denial, giving them inner strength and hope for the future.
        Imagine that scene if it had taken place on a sunny day. Would it have been nearly as effective? The answer is no. Think about it. If it hadn't been raining, the professor would not have had an umbrella which gave him clearance to walk Jo around as she shopped and headed home. They may not have even run into each other had it not been raining. It also would have created the question of whether or not the professor truly loved her for her. As he professed his love to her in her dirty, soggy clothes and messy hairdo, the audience knows for a fact that their love is true.
        To sum  things up, rain is never just rain and snow is never just snow, it all depends on how you look at it. (: