Rain | Topics for Discussion & Projects

Rain Topics for Discussion

The narrative is set in real geographic locations and refers to real-world places. How does this help establish the tone of the story?

The rain begins, when the characters go ashore, and only ends when Davidson commits suicide. Describe how the rain is linked to Davidson. What element of Davidson does the rain represent?

Mrs. Davidson is presented as nearly a caricature of the over-zealous, sexless Christian matron. What elements, if any, of her characterization allow her to become a real person within the narrative?

The trader Horn is described as a 'half-caste,', yet he somewhat successfully is able to bridge the differences between his American-and-European guests and the local natives. For example, in the concluding scenes of the narrative, Dr. Macphail is surprised to notice that Horn's body is covered with tattoos. Describe how Horn carefully straddles the gap between the two worlds presented in the narrative.

Why did...
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