The children are motivated to bother Miss Lottie because they cannot understand her seemingly purposeless act of tending to marigolds, which stand out as the only bright spot in an otherwise bleak and poverty-stricken environment. Their frustration at their own lack of control over their circumstances comes out in their actions towards Miss Lottie and her flowers.
In the story "Marigolds" by Eugenia Collier, the main events include Lizabeth destroying Miss Lottie's marigolds out of frustration, Lizabeth's realization of the harshness of reality and her empathy toward Miss Lottie, and the symbolic significance of the marigolds representing hope and beauty amid the poverty and despair of the characters.
Lizabeth, her parents, Joey, Miss Lottie, John Burke
The main characters in the short story "Marigolds" by Eugenia Collier are Lizabeth, the narrator who reflects on a pivotal experience from her childhood, and Miss Lottie, an elderly woman who grows marigolds in a ramshackle garden. These characters represent different perspectives on poverty, hope, and the loss of innocence.
"...waiting was the sorrowful background music..." "poverty was the cage in which we were all trapped"
At the beginning of the story, the narrator views Miss Lottie as eccentric and perhaps a bit of a nuisance with her obsession for planting marigolds. However, by the end of the story, the narrator comes to understand the deeper meaning behind Miss Lottie's actions and sees her as a symbol of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
John Burke is a symbol of protection since he sits in his rocking chair and seems to be protective. Also, he ran towards the bushes to help since the children where taunting Miss Lottie.
The flashback in "Marigolds" recounts the protagonist Lizabeth's memories of her childhood and the moment she destroyed Miss Lottie's marigolds, symbolizing her loss of innocence and the harsh realities of growing up. It serves to emphasize the theme of coming of age and the inevitable loss of childhood innocence.
In the story "Marigolds," Lizabeth destroys Miss Lottie's beloved marigold flowers just before dawn out of frustration and anger towards her own impoverished circumstances and the hopelessness she feels. This destructive act serves as a symbol of the loss of innocence and the harsh realities of growing up in a challenging environment.
The climax is when Lizabeth returns to Miss Lottie's garden in the night and destroys her marigolds. She then realizes what she had done was wrong and begins to think more women-like rather than child-like.
John Burke, the "queer-headed" man in the story affiliated with Miss Lottie.
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