"Coming of Age"

Marigolds is a short story by Eugenia Collier. There is a theme that is present here and it is called 'Coming of Age'. Within the theme, there are three parts. Those parts are conflict, characterization, and symbolism. In my essay, I will be talking about these three parts and how they work with the main character in the story, Lizabeth.

Conflict in 'Marigolds' highlight many points in the story since they are living with poverty. A conflict in the story is how Lizabeth is torn between being a young child and a woman. Another is how this story is taking place in the 1960's so they are poor. Here, she has no money, so she sleeps on a pallet on the floor. Miss Lottie, another family in the 'ditch' has a flower garden and sees that it is destroyed right in front of her own eyes.

Characterization has its own role as well in 'Marigolds'. The main character, Lizabeth, is a young black woman, fourteen-going-on-fifteen. Many things describe her such as her feelings of regrets from doing childish things such as throwing rocks at an old lady's garden and ripping the lady's flowers right out of the ground in front of her own eyes. People's actions towards Lizabeth include that they follow her like she is a leader to them.

'Marigolds' have many objects that have symbolism. Symbolism is something that represents itself and something beyond itself. One thing in the story that has symbolism is the marigolds that were planted in Miss Lottie's garden. They symbolize hope since someday, they will be able to get out of poverty. They also symbolize responsibility since Miss Lottie has to care and water the flowers for them to survive. Lastly, there is beauty since there is nothing in Maryland that is in color rather than the flowers. Another object from the story is dust. It symbolizes despair because they look dirty and ruined. They also symbolize poverty since the dust is gray and lifeless. Lastly, they symbolize barrenness since dust is very small but very quantitative.

In conclusion, the three parts of the theme of 'Coming of Age' are conflict, characterization, and symbolism. They are all formed together to create Lizabeth's growth into adulthood. She transforms from a child into a young woman. She gets to know more responsibilities and how to treat herself.