Snow and Rain Symbol Analysis

Snow and rain are both used to symbolize hope and redemption. When Sang Ly dreams of the Healer who will cure Nisay’s illness, she sees that the dump is covered in snow, purified, and no rubbish remains underneath it. Although Sang Ly believes that the dump in its current state makes Nisay sick, the snow-covered dump foreshadows the fact that, once Nisay is cured, San Ly will grow to see Stung Meanchey as a beautiful, hope-filled place, not an entrapment of poverty that is killing her son.

Similarly, the rain that falls while Sang Ly is with Sopeap on her deathbed signals Sopeap’s redemption as well—Sang Ly even calls it “Sopeap’s redeeming rain.” Notably, the rain does not fall until after the housekeeper’s family have thanked and honored Sopeap for her gifts to them, and thus relieved her of her guilt and redeemed what she considered to be a wretched life. As Sang Ly sits with Sopeap and the rain begins to fall on both of them, the bitterness that Sopeap held towards herself and the world washes away like the rain washing away debris. Despite Sopeap’s painful and at times contemptible life, she is surrounded by people who love, value, and appreciate her.