The Struggle In Marigolds By Eugenia Collier

“Marigolds”, a short story written by Eugenia Collier, illustrates a very complex struggle,but one almost all of us can relate to. It was set in the Great Depression, yet it has relevance today. It is a struggle all of us must go through, though it may hidden unlike the struggle Collier describes. “Marigolds” conveys the struggle between an aimless and innocent adolescent, and a mature and compassionate adult. The clash of two minds and two consciences. Looking through eyes of a 14 year old girl named Lizabeth, Collier declares a very important and relevant message to the reader. One summer night, Lizabeth learns the same lesson Collier wishes to tell the reader. Her theme in “Marigolds” is living a ignorant life, like that of a child,

It reads, “one cannot have both compassion and innocence.” Collier uses compassion and innocence to symbolize a adult and a child. Lizabeth describes innocence as “an unseeing acceptance of things at face value, an ignorance of the area below the surface.”(371-372). Lizabeth later describes compassion as “look[ing] beyond [yourself] and into the depths of another person.”(373-374). Collier firmly believes that innocence and compassion cannot be present in the same person at the same time. She believes if you live a life of child-like innocence, you will not understand compassion, therefore not being able to feel it. Growing up is the only to look beyond the surface, to see past looks, and to look beyond yourself. Growing up is the only way to bring forth good in the world as compassionate adults. Therefore, the theme is every person must grow up in order to become compassionate and to do good in the world. Even today, compassion is necessary for any good to happen, so we individually need to grow up if we want to impact his world in a positive and loving

It states that Lizabeth changed from a child to an adult in one instant, as she gazed on the sad, weary eyes of Miss. Lottie. Collier’s message is conveyed through the journey of Lizabeth. If Lizabeth undergoes the difficult journey to reach womanhood, Collier is trying to tell the reader that this is imperative for us to do so as well. One can only escape the blindness of ignorance that is accompanied by childhood best described as a “reality hidden to childhood.” on line 356, by undergoing the same journey that Lizabeth went through. Collier’s theme in “Marigolds” is that growing up is the only way in which to be able to comprehend someone other than yourself and feel compassion. Even though our situations are different the situation Lizabeth was placed in, we can still use what Lizabeth learned to help and improve our own lives. In conclusion, Collier’s theme or message in the short story “Marigolds”, is simply innocence and compassion cannot dwell in the same mind at the same time. Collier tells the reader this through the resolution of the conflict, the statement on line 375 that says that a person cannot have both innocence and compassion, and when Lizabeth changes from the innocent adolescent she used to be, to a mature