Loss Of Innocence In Marigolds By Eugenia Collier

Words: 519
Pages: 3
Open Document
The story “Marigolds” by Eugenia W. Collier greatly shows a theme that compassion and maturity comes from the breaking of innocence. This is an idea that is shown many times throughout the story, one example being when the main character Lizabeth, her brother Joey, and a few other kids go to Miss. Lottie’s house. After terrorizing Miss. Lottie and her marigolds, Lizabeth narrates, “I did not join in merriment when the kids gathered under the oak in our bare yard. Suddenly I was ashamed, and I did not like being ashamed. The child in me sulked and said it was all in fun, but the woman in me flinched at the thought of the malicious attack I had lead” (Collier 146). It is seen early on in the story that Lizabeth isn’t proud of the choices she made. She knows that …show more content…
Lizabeth’s innocence is yet to be broken; until a certain event takes place one night at her home, when she overhears her parents talking. “—and suddenly he sobbed, loudly and painfully, and cried helplessly and hopelessly in the dark night. I did not know men ever cried…. The world had lost its boundary lines… Everything was suddenly out of tune, like a broken accordion. Where did I fit into this crazy picture? I do not now remember my thoughts, only a feeling of great bewilderment and fear” (Collier 147). It’s in this moment that everything seemed to flip upside-down for Lizabeth. Her father, of whom she’s only known to be a bright, happy man, is now sobbing. Everything is wrong to Lizabeth and this is the big turning point at which her innocence breaks. Her eyes are being opened and she’s starting to realize that not everything is as it seems. It isn’t until she goes back to Miss.Lottie’s house, after hearing the sobs of her father, that she truly changes as a person and makes the transition from a young girl to a woman. “I leaped furiously into the mounds of marigolds and pulled madly, trampling and pulling and destroying the perfect yellow blooms….
Show More

Related Documents: Loss Of Innocence In Marigolds By Eugenia Collier

Literary Response: Marigolds By Eugenia W. Collier

First Name Last Name Literary Response In the short story “Marigolds” by Eugenia W. Collier, Lizabeth struggles internally and externally with the transition from childhood to adulthood. She also ends up destroying the only hope of a poor old woman trying to create beauty in poverty. In this story, the author uses conflict, symbolism, and perspective to prove the theme of hope is just as important as the the theme of coming of age. Initially, Lizabeth is shown to have many internal and external…

Words 922 - Pages 4

Innocence In Marigolds By Eugenia Collier

“Marigolds” is a short story written by Eugenia Collier. The story is about a young girl who finds beauty in something. This beauty she finds angers her which causes her to destroy it, the marigolds. She realizes what she has done and it causes her to become mature. We can see that the theme of “Marigolds” is the loss of youth's innocence comes compassion for others and a deeper understanding of life. As you mature, you gain insight. We find that this is the theme because of an acceptance of things…

Words 422 - Pages 2