Final answer:
The story 'The man to send rain clouds' encompasses themes of tradition and the clash of cultures, heavily focused on weather and the environment as central narrative elements. It uses the context of Native American beliefs and their interpretations of weather phenomena to explore the cultural significance of rain and thunder within their lives.
Step-by-step explanation:
The context of “The man to send rain clouds” story revolves around themes such as cultural clash and tradition, primarily featuring Native American characters with their close relationships to nature and their distinct cultural practices. The narrative unfolds in a rural, dessert setting, highlighting the significance of rain and the natural elements embodied within their traditional beliefs. Various passages exhibit strong imagery related to weather patterns and climate, which play a central role in the characters’ lives, both physically and spiritually. For instance, the story mentions purple clouds, indicative of an impending storm, which the characters interpret using their own cultural symbols.
The concept of rain is linked to traditional stories, as seen in the fable about the Creator placing a maiden who controls the rain in the sky. Thunder and lightning are seen as part of this system affecting nature and human life. The description of clouds as being purple, changing to white, and the aftermath of a storm, alongside personal experiences related to weather, such as sudden changes after a movie, are used as analogies that help in understanding the deep connection these characters have with their environment.
Underpinning the narrative are universal themes regarding the relationship between humans and the environment, and how different cultures perceive and narrate weather phenomena. This theme reflects true accounts of how lightning can interact with natural conductors, such as trees, despite wood being an insulator. Moreover, historical attempts to colonize new lands, such as those by Sir Walter Raleigh at Roanoke, parallel the settler attitudes towards native traditions and the environment as depicted in the story.