As a result of the children’s jealousy, they choose to lock Margot away in a closet while the sun is out for the first time in seven years. All Margot ever wanted was to see the sun; So for the kids to take away the one happy experience she was looking forward to is an awful thing. Seeing the sun and feeling the warmth was important to her well being. Although other themes could be argued for All Summer in a Day, jealousy is definitely the main one. Some could say the theme is that you should appreciate the little things in life. A valid argument could be made for that statement; But regardless of what is said for that theme, the most fitting theme for this short story, is that you shouldn’t act harshly as a result of jealousy. People almost always regret those choices later on.
After the other children come back from their time enjoying the sun, they feel guilty about putting Margot in the closet. Now it doesn’t flat out say they felt guilty, but the way they didn’t make eye contact, and hesitated to let margot out, indicates that they were. Also, they had teased her all these years about not knowing what the sun looks like, when turns out she was right and they had been nasty to her for nothing. In conclusion, the theme of Bradbury’s short story is that jealousy can lead you to do horrible things. The children are jealous of Margot, and don’t like her because she’s different. So they lock her in the closet. As a result of her being in the closet, Margot doesn’t get to see the sun. Later on the children regret locking Margot away. Ultimately, that is how jealousy is the theme of All Summer in a Day.