Significance of rain

In general, the rain in the novel symbolizes the imminence of death. Despite many happy moments Mateo and Rufus share in the novel, they are also accompanied by inconsistent rainfall. The rain acts as a sort of reminder to the boys and the reader of the sad and dark nature of the day. Clouds gather while they are in Central Park and on the way to the Cemetery. Only when Mateo sits in his grave does it begin to drizzle. In this way, rain symbolizes the dark nature of the day, serving as a constant reminder of the boys’ imminent death.