In The Elegance of the Hedgehog, rain is an important symbol of hope and transcendence. For Renée, rain is a propellor of memories, both good and bad. Her sister arrives home in the rain pregnant and disgraced shortly before her death. Thus, rain factors into Renée’s memories as indicative of pain. However, this pain also taught Renée how to live. Her sister’s experience inspires her to live away from the influence of society as much as possible. Therefore, rain is painful but also transformative. Later in her life, summer rain inspires her. Barbery subverts typically literary symbolism of rain as depressing or melancholic into a symbol of hope and transcendence. Rain is a symbol of transcendence because rain takes Renée out of her body and puts her in physical and emotional touch with the natural world. Rain erases the boundaries between Renée and her psyche. Rain is referenced in some of Renée’s most important moments toward the end of the novel, such as when she meets Kakuro and on the eve of her death.

Although this novel incorporates many literary allusions, the most important literary allusion is Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.