“All Summer in a Day” – Ray Bradbury

 

Summary

On Venus, an ever-rainy planet, Margot, a girl who remembers the sun from Earth, is shunned by her classmates-who have never seen the sun. When the sun shines for the first time in seven years, the children, in disbelief and jealousy, lock Margot in a closet. After they enjoy their temporary view of the sun, they realize how terrible their actions were; but for Margot, it is too late-the moment she had so desperately wanted to see was lost.

 

Characters:

Margot

William

The teacher

The other children

 

Plot Elements:

Exposition – The exposition of this story includes a girl called Margot. She is quiet, attentive and different from her classmates. She had various memories of the sun, because before coming to Venus she was on the earth and this are the several reason why she is different from other children because her memories.

 

Rising Action – All Summer Day begins with the children of Venus growing more and more irritated at Margot, for she speaks of the sun, and of memories of it from Earth, with passion. Margot's classmates-all of whom have never seen the sun and are envious of her memories-decide to lock Margot up for the brief shining of the sun after seven years of rain.

 

Climax – When the sun shines for a moment, and the children run outside to feel its warmth and brightness after locking Margot inside. But as the sun fades away from their view, they remember Margot and realize how cruel they had been.

 

Resolution – The resolution here is when the children let her out of the closet, but it is too late. Margot stands devastated because she knows that she will never see the sun again. It ends with Margot standing there silently, knowing that she will have to wait seven years for the sun to return.

 

Analysis

The whole Summer's Day deals with the hurt of isolation, jealousy, and the aftermath of cruel sufferings. Margot's longing for the sun which only she can understand becomes the object of jealousy among other children. The regret that the children feel later after shutting its doors makes sad feelings and guilt within the shadow of the incident. The story, therefore, brings forth the emotional cost of selfishness and pain from the deep void left.