In the Rubbish Tin

In "In the Rubbish Tin" by "Apirana Taylor" an important symbol is the rain. In this story the rain is an important symbol as it represents the lives of both Ruth and Phillipa, their attitudes and feelings towards the world they live in. Additionally the rain represents the tears of desperation that fall from the very community they live in, drenched in its own sorrows and burdens.

The rain is an important symbol as it represents the lives of both Ruth and Phillipa, their attitudes and feelings towards the world they live in. Ruth and Phillipa have two outlooks on life. Ruth on one hand does not enjoy life - she drowns her sorrow and trouble by drinking profusely, and misusing drugs. "Who gives a **** about the rain" she exclaims when the rain starts to fall. Ruth does not care for the rain or her life for that matter, she shows up her miserable attitude by this response. Dissimilar to Ruth, Phillipa has a happy attitude towards the rain, "let's play in the rain" she calls to Chubby. Phillipa's response to the rain illustrates the symbolic meaning of the rain, its representation of both Phillipa's and Ruth's life. The rain is indeed an important symbol within this short text.

Additionally the rain is an important symbol as it furthermore represents the tears of desperation that fall on the community. It has already come to the attention of the community that Phillipa is mistreated, as we know that she has been in a foster home previously. The community however is burdened with all of its own problems and sorrow to such a point that it can no longer hear the calls of Phillipa. Likewise the rain falls on the "Rubbish Tin" in a literal sense drowning out the calls of young Phillipa, these tears of the community stem from its inability to help and its negligence to act.

In conclusion it is clear that the rain is a very important symbol within this text. It represents the lives of Phillipa and Ruth, giving light to the fact that Phillipa's life has not yet been