The full moon represents the narrator’s youthful bravado: its light at first seems to bring clarity and strength, but then in hindsight it seems to have enchanted them into folly. When the night starts, the full moon illuminates deceptively; it is “almost as bright as day, but softer and gentler than daylight could ever be.” This misleading light inspires over-confidence in the boys, making them “feel as though [they could] do anything in the world.” Tricked by this deceptive confidence, the narrator also rushes to judgement about Mr. Wills, foolishly believing the town’s gossip about him. Finally, the moon inspires the narrator to steal Mr. Wills’s watermelon that very night, as he concludes it would be most heroic to steal the melon when Mr. Wills could easily see him. The moon therefore encourages the boys’ bravado.
However, by the end of the night, the moon’s enchantment has worn off, and the narrator sees his confidence as youthful folly. After witnessing the consequences of his actions on Mr. Wills’s family, the narrator is grateful when the moon sets, bringing “a welcome darkness into the world.” With the deceptive moon gone, the narrator can see the true motives behind his own actions: instead of standing up for what was right, he realizes that he was only “acting out of pride.” Ultimately, true clarity comes to the narrator only in “the gray light of dawning,” when he has the idea to help Mr. Wills plant the watermelon seeds next year. The moonlight therefore represents youthful bravado, while daylight brings mature understanding.
Moon Quotes in The Taste of Watermelon
The moon floated up into the sky, making everything almost as bright as day, but at the same time softer and gentler than ever daylight could be. It was the kind of night when you felt you can do anything in the world, even boldly asking Willadean Wills for a date. On a night like that, you couldn’t help but feel that she’d gladly accept.
Moon Symbol Timeline in The Taste of Watermelon
