Rain, Rain, Go Away

The story was first published in 1959, and it reflects many aspects of society at that time. To what extent are its themes and concerns still relevant today? Evaluate and discuss how you reached your conclusions.

Describe the relationship between Lillian and George Wright throughout the story. What do their interactions reveal about each of them and about their marriage?

Is Lillian Wright ultimately the protagonist or the antagonist of “Rain, Rain, Go Away”? Why?

The Sakkaros are presented as a single family unit, and the characters have no first names. Why did Asimov choose to present them in this way? How does this choice affect the story’s themes?

Tommie Wright and the Sakkaro boy are allowed to go off on their own at the park, with tickets “for each on every variety of centrifugal thrill that the park offered” (131). Using what you already know about Tommie and the Sakkaros, what do you imagine they did while on their own? How might each boy have reacted to the rides and amusements? Using the story’s style of narration and dialogue, write this scene.

Why might Asimov have chosen to center the story mostly on the dialogue between the Wrights rather than his own narration? How does this decision affect the story’s imagery, tone, and characterization?

Once Asimov knew how a story would begin and end, he wrote straight through and rarely made edits. If you were given the opportunity to edit “Rain, Rain, Go Away,” what changes would you make? Why?

The seed of the story’s premise was based on a clichéd saying used to describe people who make a fuss over rain: “It’s as if you’re made of sugar and afraid you’ll melt.” Think of another cliché or idiom that might serve as the premise for a short story if it were interpreted literally. Outline a plot for your story, explaining how you would allude to your premise along with the themes, characters, and real-world connections you would incorporate.