Symbolism ("Late Returns") Weather

Throughout “Late Returns,” the abrupt change in weather is symbolic of a change in time. When Fred Mueller meets John in the Bookmobile, the sky is grey. After Fred leaves and John opens the door himself, the sky has cleared and the sun is shining. The shift indicates an altered reality for John and allows for the acceptance of the impossibility. The sunlight, more specifically, is symbolic of the hope in times of despair. The sunlight though the closed garage door is like “dull milk,” discomforting and unhelpful (207). When John opens the door the next time, he lets the summer day fill the room and felt “happy” (229). While John attempts to understand the Bookmobile, he finds the weather cold, snowy, and rainy. But when he learns the impact of his contribution to people’s lives, as time goes on, he finds the sunlight.