What is heat a symbol of?

Heat is a symbol of rejuvenation and also sickness in the novel. It is used when Joanna performs the fire ritual where the girls drew their names and threw them into the fire to welcome the coming of spring and to "burn away winter." Heat is also equated with desire, as Will and Cora often feel a sense of heat between the two of them the closer they become. At the same time, however, heat also symbolizes sickness as is portrayed in Stella and her fever, which contrasts - or even fuels - her obsession with the color blue. Because Stella usually has a fever and feels hot she must "cool" (219) herself with the color blue and takes to becoming obsessed with its coolness.