Introduction The novel The Wind written in 1925 by Dorothy Scarborough is a part of the fiction that explores the mysterious side of one’s mind. The author focuses on the thoughts of the protagonist, Letty Mason, and shows the world through her eyes. The novel is filled with descriptions of nature and elements of folklore. This paper aims to present and review the central themes of the book The Wind . Summary The book follows the life of Letty Mason, a young woman that has to travel from Virginia to Texas after the death of her mother. She needs to go to her cousin, Beverly, who lives on a ranch near Sweetwater. It is necessary to mention that the novel takes place during the 1880s, a time when Texas faced a severe drought. On her way to Sweetwater, Letty meets Wirt Roddy, a man that tells her to leave Sweetwater because “this country’s not like what you’ve been used to” (Scarborough 19). He explains that the weather in these lands and especially the wind can drive women to madness. Letty remembers his words and recalls them often during the course of the book. Later, two men are introduced to the protagonist, Lige and Sourdough. These men live near Beverly, and both are interested in Letty. Furthermore, Letty finally meets her cousin, his wife, Cora, and their kids. While Beverly is happy to see his sister, Cora is apprehensive of their new family member. Letty struggles with her new way of living. Her current occupation differs significantly from her previous life in Virginia. Everything is unusual to her, including the weather, the people, and their beliefs. The return of Wirt Roddy further discombobulates Letty as he confesses his love for her. However, his intentions are not as pure as he is already married. Eventually, Letty agrees to marry Lige and to live with him. However, Wirt Roddy tries to talk to her once again in hopes to take her back to his house. Letty is agitated because she is not taken seriously by the man. She is also unnerved by the wind that slowly takes over her mind. In the end, she shoots Wirt Roddy during a fight and runs into the windstorm. Main Themes The climate and the time period are chosen by the author for a reason, as she explains that at the beginning of the book. According to the author, the weather during the 1880s was harsher than it is now (Scarborough 2). Human progress affected the nature as houses, farms, and fences created many obstacles for the wind to roam freely. Thus, the time period of the novel could cause the incidents that are described in the text, while the current weather is not as cruel. The description of nature in this book is essential to the plot. Scarborough gives many details while exploring the landscape of Texas and Virginia. Virginia is described with the use of various epithets and adjectives. The protagonist’s old home is portrayed as a place of exquisite beauty. Texas, on the other hand, is shown as a wasteland. Here, there are no rustling trees, blooming flowers, or singing birds. The author uses repetition to enhance the feeling of monotony, writing “sand, sand, sand” (Scarborough 52). Thus, such a portrayal is used to highlight the differences between the two states and explain the anxiety of the main character. One of the central themes that are discussed in the text is madness that can overcome one’s thoughts. Letty is a young woman that is not prepared to live in the harsh environment of her new home. Here, the wind is o