The Symbolism of Rain in Wasteland

Connecting stories to the main point of the article is one way the author can achieve success in selling his issue. In Wasteland by Frederick Kaufman, the author uses his own personal experience as well as the story told to him by John Brunston, a victim of human waste overflow, to illustrate his point that any average person can fall victim to the issue that he is presenting. Kaufman uses the reader’s humanity to lure the reader’s interest before he presents his issue. Starting with a story other than his own was a great way to gain the reader’s trust in his own opinion. Brunston’s story provides a connection between the author and the reader that strengthens his points. Following Brunston’s story with his own encounter amongst the human waste world results in Kaufman achieving success by sewing his opinions through a relatable experience that holds the attention of the reader.

When touring one of the facilities, Askew claims to Kaufman that “on a cold morning, you will see the water vaporing off and it will rain inside the plant” (Kaufman 4). The scientific properties of the condensation were not nearly as fascinating as the symbolic nature of the rain. The plant’s job is to clean human waste and repurpose it somewhere in society, while the rain is symbolic as a cleansing experience in literature. Not only that, but the rain is also symbolic of a bad situation and the doom that the world faces if it does not find a solution to the issue on waste. This symbolism brought out the author’s viewpoint in a very interesting and unique manner that retains the audience’s attention. This article was successful in expressing the author’s opinion on the waste management issue through personal encounters and imagery.