In Ginny Clyde’s Heiress to Waitress series, Clyde writes a book for three of the seasons, showing just how much our heroine has matured. Haikus often paint a simplistic, yet powerful image of nature, many of which involve the seasons. Nature writers, such as Annie Dillard, have commented on the beauty of the seasons as well, and have drawn illustrious depictions of them through words alone. As writers, we know that the four seasons carry deep symbols within them. Oftentimes, they can even manifest in various aspects of the story, whether it be through the settings, or even the characters themselves. As such, below are some meanings behind each of the seasons.

Spring
Generally speaking, spring represents the beginnings of life. It represents a time of birth, of innocence. For instance, spring supposedly brings nourishing rain that can bring forth new life. With holidays such as Easter, it can also be used to represent rebirth and renewal. In regards to humans, it can also represent childhood. Some literary works inspired by spring include William Wordsworth’s Lines Written in Early Spring and A.E. Houseman’s Loveliest of trees, the cherry now.

Summer
Summer is a time when things are at their most vibrant. It’s a time when many of us are reminded of our more reckless natures, of when emotions are riled and when we end up making mistakes that we, more often than not, don’t regret. Ironically enough, summer is also when the most murders take place, though this could be because as the temperature heats up, so do our emotional vulnerabilities. According to The Great Gatsby, summer is when love and anger intertwine, and as such, create tragedies that people may not recover from.

Autumn
Whenever we think of autumn, we think of colorful leaves, scarves, Halloween, perhaps even Thanksgiving. Typically, autumn represents the end of life, and the various holidays around autumn symbolize various family traditions. What’s more, autumn is often associated with old pagan deities because it’s the season when we harvest food. Autumn is also known for its more sinister undertones, from the refreshing look the graveyards receive, to the fall festivals all advertising their cute little ghost portrayals.

Winter
Winter is often seen as a depressing season filled with death. It also symbolizes the end of many things, whether it be life, relationships, or any other important events that signify the end of a chapter in that person’s life. Winter has been shown to portray emotions such as sadness and anger, though that anger would often be very cold and stoic. Still, there's an eerie beauty winter offers, so much so that many horror and thriller writers often use the season for their macabre inspiration.

Each season has its own beauty. Whether it be the fresh beginnings that spring offers, or even the nostalgic endings of winter, you can use seasons for a variety of different literary devices. What’s more, introducing seasons can bring a quiet loveliness to your story, as well as a poetic setting that your characters can grow in.