Marigolds

Collier uses irony within “Marigolds” to reinforce the themes of Creating Beauty in Ugliness and The Eroding Impact of Poverty. Lizabeth’s hometown is described as dust-covered and impoverished, and the only beauty described in this setting is found in the marigolds in Miss Lottie’s yard. Instead of Lizabeth or the children enjoying the beauty of the marigolds as a break from the inhospitable surroundings, the contradiction of the flowers in so dreary a world makes them feel strange, so they hate the marigolds. Their strong response links to the theme of The Eroding Impact of Poverty because the lack of hope within the community and the children inclines them toward destruction. For Lizabeth, a gradual awakening to the beauty of the flowers is impossible. Rather, she must destroy them to mature enough to truly see their value.

Collier creates an atmosphere of despair surrounding Lizabeth that explores The Eroding Impact of Poverty. The Great Depression is crushing the town, and jobs are scarce, leaving the Black community particularly devastated. That economic scarcity has deeply affected the community in general and Lizabeth’s family in particular. The town is sparse, and only a few children play together; it is implied that many residents have left for marriages or jobs in the city or moved in with relatives, like Lizabeth’s siblings. The Great Depression has dispersed her family so that it is only she and her little brother at home during the day while her parents are working or struggling to find work. Reflecting this dwindling community, Collier frequently builds the town’s atmosphere by describing what it lacks rather than what it has: It is “grassless,” and it has “no radios.” This bleakness is reinforced by the ways the children seek distractions to fill their summer days, which often veer to destruction.