Weather & the News
Amanda Hubbs
Weather is a common motif used throughout gothic literature,
in addition to many other genres of literature. I thoroughly enjoy the use of
weather within literature because I feel that I can directly relate to weather
affecting my mood, attitude, and emotions.
The use of weather within literature is generally used to
convey a dark theme, a hint at death, or a sudden turn of events. Just as in
“The Reach” by Stephen King, one of my favorite short stories from this
semester, the weather played a large part in directing the story to its
conclusion: death. Throughout the story, the weather continuously became worse
as the story progressed, eventually leading to the death of Stella Flanders in
the heat of the storm.
In some of the most recent news, there has been a super
typhoon named Haiyan, which has been an extremely powerful storm. I have always
found large storms or natural disasters extremely interesting to the point
where I will watch the news coverage for hours on end. Just as with the massive
storm Sandy, the dark weather, the cold temperatures, and sheer destruction
brought about a great sense of fear, especially fear of the unknown. This new
super typhoon has brought about this same fear; at one point in the storm, over
1,200 people were assumed dead.
"I feel fear. I don't know what the situation is there," Elinsuv
said.
Although death and destruction are very negative aspects of
life, they are inevitable and a mysterious aspect of life.
When a dreadful, dark storm affects part of our world, it is
always amazing for me to see how the stormy clouds, the deathly hurricanes or
tornadoes, and overall tragedy bring about a sense of harmony and unity among
those affected and unaffected. Just as in “The Reach,” the family was brought
together at the peak of the storm, when the clouds were the darkest, and when
the conditions were the worst, just as it happens within our world when one is
struck by tragedy.
“He told them that during the
great storms of winter the wind seems to sing with almost human voices, and
that sometimes it seemed to him he could almost make out the words:
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow/Praise Him, ye creatures here
below..."
King,
Stephen. “The Reach.” American Gothic Tales. Ed. Joyce Carol Oates.
New York: The Penguin Group. 378-389. Print.
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