Marigolds
byEugenia Collier
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Miss Lottie is the town’s most impoverished resident. She’s an old woman who lives at the edge of town in a ramshackle building with her disabled son, John Burke. While the circ*mstances of Miss Lottie’s life seem particularly challenging, she still makes time to grow and nurture her dazzling marigolds. It would be easy for Miss Lottie to be bitter or resentful, but instead she cultivates beauty within poverty, courageously seeking to make her decrepit home, which the children call a “monument to decay,” a better place.
Miss Lottie Quotes in Marigolds
The Marigolds quotes below are all either spoken by Miss Lottie or refer to Miss Lottie. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
MarigoldsQuotes
Miss Lottie’s house was the most ramshackle of all our ramshackle homes.
Related Characters:Lizabeth (speaker), Miss Lottie
Page Number and Citation:12
Explanation and Analysis:
I gazed upon a kind of reality which is hidden to childhood. The witch was no longer a witch but only a broken old woman who had dared to create beauty in the midst of ugliness and sterility.
Related Characters:Lizabeth (speaker), Miss Lottie
Page Number and Citation:20
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Miss Lottie Quotes in Marigolds
The Marigolds quotes below are all either spoken by Miss Lottie or refer to Miss Lottie. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
MarigoldsQuotes
Miss Lottie’s house was the most ramshackle of all our ramshackle homes.
Related Characters:Lizabeth (speaker), Miss Lottie
Page Number and Citation:12
Explanation and Analysis:
I gazed upon a kind of reality which is hidden to childhood. The witch was no longer a witch but only a broken old woman who had dared to create beauty in the midst of ugliness and sterility.
Related Characters:Lizabeth (speaker), Miss Lottie
Page Number and Citation:20
I'm an experienced literature enthusiast with a particular fondness for dissecting narratives and exploring the intricacies of characters, themes, and symbols within literary works. I've extensively studied various texts, including "Marigolds" by Eugenia Collier, and possess a deep understanding of its core elements.
In "Marigolds," Eugenia Collier weaves a poignant tale of coming-of-age, poverty, and the pursuit of beauty amidst adversity. The story revolves around Miss Lottie, a character who embodies resilience and tenacity despite living in abject poverty. Her portrayal as the impoverished resident of the town, residing in a dilapidated house with her disabled son, John Burke, symbolizes the stark reality of destitution.
Miss Lottie's character is significant as she defies the desolation around her by nurturing and cultivating vibrant marigolds. The act of growing these flowers amidst decay becomes a powerful symbol of hope and beauty in an otherwise bleak environment. Collier intricately portrays Miss Lottie's determination to create something beautiful, highlighting her courage in seeking solace and transformation within her surroundings.
The narrative is primarily seen through the eyes of the protagonist, Lizabeth, who undergoes a transformative experience upon witnessing Miss Lottie's perseverance. Lizabeth's initial perception of Miss Lottie as a witch residing in a decrepit house gradually evolves into a realization that Miss Lottie is merely an old woman, symbolizing the juxtaposition of beauty within ugliness, and the complexity of human existence.
Themes of coming-of-age, the importance of beauty, and the harsh realities of poverty interweave throughout the story, inviting readers to contemplate the complexities of human emotions and the resilience of the human spirit.
Collier masterfully employs symbolism, such as the marigolds, the dilapidated house, and the town's poverty, to underscore deeper themes and the emotional journey of the characters. Through vivid imagery and nuanced characterization, "Marigolds" resonates with readers by exploring the intricate balance between despair and hope, ugliness and beauty, and the resilience found within the human condition.
This captivating narrative continues to stand as a poignant reflection on the human experience, urging readers to contemplate the significance of finding beauty and hope even in the most adverse circ*mstances.
