Toni Morrison uses the four seasons to divide the novel The Bluest Eyes into four sections. Morrison disregards the expectancies usually associate each season by deliberately going out of her way to reconstruct the normal associations of the season with something completely different. Morrison depicts the opposite of the traditional symbolism for each season to illustrate how abnormal the events that take place are. Winter is usually the time where things die so that it may be revived; however for Pecola there is no "new life", there is only false hope. For instance, Maureen is very nice to Pecola for a short time, giving Pecola hope in having found a new friend, but then she calls Pecola ugly like everyone else does, and the hope dies. This is a demonstration of the cold, …show more content…
The marigolds represent the possibility of renewal and birth; but they do not blossom, and Pecola's baby dies, implying that the natural order his been intruded by the incestuous nature of her pregnancy. Morrison utilizes flowers as a metaphor throughout the book; however, Claudia finally clarifies the significance of the marigold and relates it to all African-Americans on the last page of the book. "I even think now that the land of the entire country was hostile to marigolds that year. Certain seeds it will not nurture, certain fruits it will not bear . . ." Morrison implies that like Pecola many other African-Americans, was never given the chance to grow and succeed because she lived in a society or soil, that was inherently racist, and would not nurture her. Morrison's refusal to use the four seasons the way the reader usually associates it, emphasizes the importance of nature in this novel. Her novel presented a natural and earthy tone and in progression with the season of life as a frame connects nature and racism because both are inevitably
In John Knowles’ novel, A Separate Piece, the main Character, Gene Forrester, has to learn to become friends with his hazardous roommate, Phineas, at his school, Devon, in New Hampshire. The novel is affected by a number of changes, however the largest and most significant change is the change in seasons. In Thomas C. Foster’s novel, How to read literature like a Professor, chapter twenty explains the significance of the seasons. Foster states that, “Summer [symbolizes] adulthood and romance and fulfillment and passion,” while, “ winter [symbolizes] old age and resentment and death.” John Knowles’ book A Separate Peace, all aspects of Summer, Fall, and Winter are excellently represented as explained in Thomas C. Foster’s novel, How to read
“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,
One might think, based on the cultural importance of individualism in the United States, that a person can lead a successful life without any companions or loved ones. However, in The Bean Trees, author Barbara Kingsolver shows otherwise. Through the development of a flowering plant motif in this novel, the world is shown to be a place where people need others who love and care for them to live a fulfilling life. The motif of flowering plants develops meaning through the author’s continued use. Kingsolver introduces this motif in the chapter “The Miracle of Dog Doo Park” when the wisteria blossoms out of the seemingly hostile environment of the polluted, parched park. The word “miracle”
Her daughter is becoming a woman, more shapely. She, on the other hand, is becoming heavier and losing her youthful figure. She is deeply troubled by this transformation. She even speaks of the dryness of her skin and contrasts that with comparing her daughter with the beautiful image of a flower blooming from a cactus (8-10). The imagery of the new flower coming from a harsh, prickly object such as a cactus represents the fresh woman blossoming from the roughness of childhood into the grace of the adult world.
As I was sitting in my house getting a drink of water, I heard someone crying outside. As I went to look to see what was going on I saw a girl sitting in my flower patch with all the perfectly yellow blooms torn out of the ground. With every marigold that she tore out it was like a being stabbed in the heart for me. I knew that I would never plant them again since no one appreciated them except for me. I loved marigolds ever since my mother had first gotten them from a store. The color and the fresh scent had always seem to put me in a better mood than before. I just wanted everyone else to have that same feeling when I had planted them so they could be as happy as I was at that very moment when I had first laid my hands on them. When I watched Lizabeth rip the marigolds from the ground I didn’t know why I didn’t show any emotion at that moment, I was in shock. I guess all I wanted to do was add some color to this town and have it beautiful in the midst of ugliness and sterility. When I saw my flowers laying lifeless on the ground, I didn’t know what to do after that point, I was in shock, a deep sadness had seemed
By the virtue of their innocence, the children in “Marigolds” are cruel. Lizabeth explains how there are “...no radios, few newspapers, and no magazines”(76). Thus the kids are unaware of the poverty they are living in. They have no knowledge of what is happening in the world and are only exposed of what is around them. They live their lives normally, doing their chores, playing and running around like any kid will do. One day, the kids are bored and ...
In the story, “Recitatif,” Toni Morrison uses vague signs and traits to create Roberta and Twyla’s racial identity to show how the characters relationship is shaped by their racial difference. Morrison wants the reader’s to face their racial preconceptions and stereotypical assumptions. Racial identity in “Recitatif,” is most clear through the author’s use of traits that are linked to vague stereotypes, views on racial tension, intelligence, or ones physical appearance. Toni Morrison provides specific social and historical descriptions of the two girls to make readers question the way that stereotypes affect our understanding of a character. The uncertainties about racial identity of the characters causes the reader to become pre-occupied with assigning a race to a specific character based merely upon the associations and stereotypes that the reader creates based on the clues given by Morrison throughout the story. Morrison accomplishes this through the relationship between Twyla and Roberta, the role of Maggie, and questioning race and racial stereotypes of the characters. Throughout the story, Roberta and Twyla meet throughout five distinct moments that shapes their friendship by racial differences.
...from one another and as a result, grew up with different values and senses for what was truly important in life and what was truly necessary to survive. Jane emerged from a strict, abusive upbringing, into a well-rounded, strong-minded, responsible, and dedicated adult who triumphed in the end. Lily suffered a fate that she almost seemed destined for. Lily shares her name with a common flower. This fact may contain an aspect of symbolism in that like a dying flower, Lily’s character gradually begins to “wilt” as
"And Pecola. She hid behind hers. (Ugliness) Concealed, veiled, eclipsed--peeping out from behind the shroud very seldom, and then only to yearn for the return of her mask" (Morrison 39). In the novel The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison, the main character, Pecola, comes to see herself as ugly. This idea she creates results from her isolation from friends, the community, and ever her family. There are three stages that lead up to Pecola portraying herself as an ugly human being. The three stages that lead to Pecola's realization are her family's outlook toward her, the community members telling her she is ugly, and her actually accepting what the other say or think about her. Each stage progresses into the other to finally reach the last stage and the end of the novel when Pecola eventually has to rely on herself as an imaginary friend so she will have someone to talk to.
Through the ages, flowers have been given during times of illness for healing, for love, for friendship, for respect. Flowers inspire society to forgive and have hope. In her novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses flowers as symbols of positivity. The novel revolves around two Depression-era children that are exposed to the prejudices of the society through a trial involving the rape of a young girl. Flowers like camellias, azaleas, and geraniums symbolize being free, finding joy, and growth as time passes on. Lee teach readers about being happy through flowers.
So often, the old adage, "History always repeats itself," rings true due to a failure to truly confront the past, especially when the memory of a period of time sparks profoundly negative emotions ranging from anguish to anger. However, danger lies in failing to recognize history or in the inability to reconcile the mistakes of the past. In her novel, Beloved, Toni Morrison explores the relationship between the past, present and future. Because the horrors of slavery cause so much pain for slaves who endured physical abuse as well as psychological and emotional hardships, former slaves may try to block out the pain, failing to reconcile with their past. However, when Sethe, one of the novel's central characters fails to confront her personal history she still appears plagued by guilt and pain, thus demonstrating its unavoidability. Only when she begins to make steps toward recovery, facing the horrors of her past and reconciling them does she attain any piece of mind. Morrison divides her novel into three parts in order to track and distinguish the three stages of Sethe approach with dealing with her personal history. Through the character development of Sethe, Morrison suggests that in order to live in the present and enjoy the future, it is essential to reconcile the traumas of the past.
The first and most prominent floral image in the novel is of the garden at Coulibri, "But it had gone wild. The paths were overgrown and a smell of dead flowers mixed with the fresh living smell." (p.16). Antoinette describes the garden as being full of life but now everything is dead, this symbolizes something that is beautiful but gone back or is not going to last long. The garden is also compared to the garden of Eden, "Our garden was large and beautiful as that garden in the Bible-the tree of life grew there"(p.16). When she refers to the "tree of life growing there" it is as though she is looking back and relating to the former slave owners. She also says "The scent was very sweet and strong. I never went near it."(p.16). This excerpt is symbolizing her constant fear to ever be close to giving love.
The author Eugenia Collier of the story “Marigolds” uses diction, connotation, and imagery to touch the hearts, and create pictures in the minds of her audience. One example of when diction is used was when the author wrote “Old witch fell in a ditch picked up a penny and thought she was rich.” The story “Marigolds” is a true story based on actual events that occurred in the author Eugenia Collier’s life. When the author wrote this, she showed how rude and childish her young self once was. By doing this, the author Eugenia Collier is able to emphasize the big change of when she transitions from a childish 14 year old, into a more mature young adult. Also, one example of imagery used in this story “Marigolds” was when the author Eugenia Collier,
Telling a story through the voice of a modern day teenager may seem impossible. But, then also having teenagers be the ones criticizing and reading your work makes it even more impossible. To capture all of the mood changes, hardships and comments a teenager thinks in their head is a daunting task. Often that is why I find realistic fiction dull and boring because the author is not able to do that. However, Laurie Halse Anderson crafted her work in a way that she almost took thoughts from my mind and put them into her writing. I was captivated by the way she wrote her stories and used witty comments as well as sensitivity. I think many readers would agree with me on this too. She sounded like a teenager herself. One of my favorite quotes from
It portrayed the themes of ephemerality, life in the face of death, and the dastardly characteristics of death. Just like his mother, the dandelion was able to accomplish conveying the emotions and thoughts he held. The dandelion has a brief lifespan, and once it has completed its journey it departs for good. Even though the garden it lived in had poisonous soil, the dandelion was still able to stay alive (if only for a little while) in the wasteland. Finally, the brevity of the weed’s life is shadowed by the remaining beauty in the world, and this portrays the author’s feelings of being cheated by his mother’s untimely death. Her life is gone like a breeze, but her beauty will remain an eternal