I live in Texas. And in Texas, it gets hot during the summer. Immensely hot, so much so we even started selling t-shirts that say, “I survived the summer of 2011.” And during my brief stint in medical school, where there was practically no cold weather whatsoever, I was torn between anger, frustration, and plain laziness. When I told my love this, he merely scoffed and said he would’ve preferred living there.  

Unlike me, there are many people who actually enjoy the torturous sun, however insane they may be. Because summer usually means no school. Summer means water parks, video games all day, and even the occasional vacation to Disney World. But for writers and artists alike, summer carries more significant meanings. Some of these meanings are listed below.

Life

Summer is a time when everything comes alive. The leaves are green and the wildflowers are sprouting like crazy. The animals are all out and about, and the earth is teeming with life. What’s more, if it’s not too hot, everyone is outside, whether that be near pools, theme parks, or even community centers. This is also reflected in literature, where summer often represents youth. 

Transparency

But more than that, summer has also been used to showcase the inner workings of humanity. Because the sun is strongest during this time, it’s also when the nights are shorter. It’s harder to keep secrets and burdens and makes us ready to act on thoughts that no one else would find out about. Think of the summer romances and the recklessness of youth during this time.

Intensity 

Interestingly enough, more crimes are committed during summer than any other season. Perhaps this is because emotions run high in the heat. Or maybe because people are so hot that they just go with whatever they’re thinking of, as mentioned above. And as I’ve said before, romances can blossom in an instant. New relationships appear without meaning to. For instance, in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the main character, Gatsby, has fallen in love with Daisy, a married woman. He desperately tries to get her to be with him, even though she’s said no repeatedly. By the time autumn comes around, everyone’s emotions have already taken hold of them, and the consequences catch up with all the characters since they’ve allowed tragedy to overtake them. And to think this could all have been avoided if they actually took the time to think about their actions. 

Summer is a time of life, of beauty, and even clarity. It's filled with enjoyment and happiness, laughter and amusement. When we think of summer, we think of fireworks and waterparks and anything else that might appeal to us. However, it’s also a time of intensity, of when the sun is at its hottest and emotions are like wildfire. It’s a time when the imagination can run wild. And when they do, anything can happen. Even in writing.