Personification in literature, such as depicting weather and flowers with human qualities, transforms the environment into an antagonist or a nurturing force, influencing the characters' emotions and shaping the reader's understanding of the themes and mood.
The use of personification in literary settings not only sets the tone but also conveys a deeper understanding of the environment and its impact on the characters. For example, in the provided text, weather conditions such as a 'threatening' misty morning and a 'cheerless and gloomy' ambiance are personified, reflecting not just the physical threats posed by the environment but also its emotional influence on the characters. Personification allows the weather to take on the role of an antagonist, creating a sense of conflict and formidability that characters must overcome.
The flowers, in contrast, are depicted with human-like qualities such as 'reeling and dancing', which offers a conflicting, more positive perspective of nature, suggesting its nurturing and rejuvenating aspect. This literary device communicates the influence nature has on the characters' emotional wellbeing, as it mirrors their feelings and becomes a vehicle for their transformation, as seen with the 'daffodils helped her get through whatever "weariness" she might be feeling'.
When analyzing the setting, it's essential to recognize that personification does more than describe the scene; it shapes the reader's understanding of the themes, mood, and character relationships within the story, as exemplified by the wind's shift from menacing to something that 'laughed with the wind' along with the daffodils, symbolizing a transformative experience for the characters.