Virgil Wander

Storms set an atmospheric tone for the story and symbolize internal and external tension. Storms highlight the power of nature as well as life’s unpredictability. Whether literal or metaphorical, storms disturb the ordinary course of life, causing trials and upheaval that force change in people’s lives. The story begins with a historic snowstorm in Greenstone, a midwestern town that is no stranger to violent weather. Though Virgil has seen many similar storms before, something about this one disorients him, causing him to lose control of his car and careen into Lake Superior. Powerful storms are humbling and remind humans of their place in the universe, and the blizzard becomes a marker in Virgil’s life as the accident and subsequent brain injury force him to reevaluate his priorities and purpose. Snowstorms continue to punish Virgil as a particularly wet winter dumps so much snow and rain on Greenstone that the Empress roof is in danger of collapse. Living in the Great Lakes region requires resilience and willingness to surrender to the power of its temperamental weather. As the story progresses, squalls, tempests, and gales highlight humanity’s vulnerability and the town’s fortitude to weather anything that comes its way.