Jazz Lesson Plan

How are the seasons used symbolically in the novel?

The novel starts in the fall and ends in the spring. In countries that have climates with these four seasons, fall is commonly seen as a time of harvest, winter of death, spring of growth and rebirth, and summer of continued growth and maturation.

Fall: Dorcas first catches Joe's eye in October. For months Violet has been treating her birds better than Joe—she is about to reap the harvest of these months. Joe is ready and ripe for change.

Winter: The affair ends with Dorcas dead by January, with symbolically appropriate timing.

Spring: A time of renewal and growth is when Felice and the Traces start an unlikely...