In any given literary work the presence of symbols, motifs and archetypes, influence and enrich the reader's experience. While also emphasizing the themes, and foreshadowing the course of events in the literary work. This above statement is further proved by the saturation of various symbols, motifs, and archetypes in the novel snow falling on cedars, by David Guterson. Guterson has very effectively used the storm as a motif that influences the major themes of the novel. Since the novel takes place in the American-Pacific region of Puget Sound, Guterson has very imaginatively used the cedar tree as a profound symbol, which enriches the content of the novel in various aspects .He has also used the representation of nature as an very effective archetypal image which not only foreshadows, the course of events, but also denotes that nature is a very ambiguous force which can cause unexpected outcomes. In an attempt to better understand the uncontrollable events that influence the course of human lives in Snow Falling on Cedars, the use of symbols, motifs and archetypes is analyzed.
A storm signifies the overwhelming force of nature, which cannot be subdued, or avoided, as it influences all animate and inanimate things. Through the course of the novel a violent snow storm is raging in Saint Piedro, but other than that there are many occurrences of the storm in the flashbacks as well. The snow storm that occurs during the trial, temporarily shuts down life for the islanders, it puts the island of Saint Piedro at its mercy. "Whole Island's down No-body's got power or phone anywhere." (Guterson, 314). The above quote signifies the isolation and despair of island life, how the people are all isolated, silent, and keep to themselves." There were high seas between Saint Piedro and the mainland that prevented the Anacortes ferry from running" (Guterson, 316). This quote indicates that, not only are the people of Saint Piedro are in isolation with each other, but also isolated from the mainland.
