Character Analysis Of Florence From The Book 'Seedfolks'

The last chapter from the book “Seedfolks” presented the last character - Florence. Certainly, she was one of the watchers from the neighborhood, one of those people who could not stay apart, one of those who carried for others, and, with any doubt, we can relate her to Sam from the previous chapter. Florence was a descendant of a freed slavery family who moved from Louisiana to Colorado and homesteaded along the Gunnison River. Since her family was the first African-American family in Colorado, her father called them seedfolks, which means the first of their family. Florence grew up out in the country, and she missed country things such as eating beans off the vine instead of getting them from the store or the smell of hayfield. Therefore, after she retired, she used to

go outside and see what was new in the garden.

Her arthritis caused problems; so, she could not plant anything. Nevertheless, this problem did not make her to feel alone; she always kept in mind her grandmother’s words, “Be Not Solitary, Be not Idle.” Another thing, which should be mentioned about Florence is her attitude toward others. For instance, one day, when she saw a man reaching through the fence to take a tomato, Florence stopped him. Although those tomatoes belonged to someone else, she could not stay apart and watch how a person was taking something which did not belong to him. Also, Florence admired all the gardeners who worked hard to grow something instead of waiting for governmental support.

Florence’s story is different from the rest of the story from the book. Almost all of the characters went through a drama in their life, and after joining the community garden, most of them changed their life path or attitude. Unlikely to them, Florence did not give more details about her life before she discovered the community garden or

about any drama in her life. She shared a few things about her grandparents, where she grew up and her occupation before retiring. So, she did not change anything in her life. Florence remained a watcher who used to check on what was new in the neighborhood and especially in the community garden. During the summer, Florence enjoyed going outside and see all of her neighbors working in the garden; she enjoyed every moment spent outside. However, in the fall everything changed. All the green disappeared; the ground turned brown and the garden became the same as at the beginning: empty and forgotten. This fact disappointed Florence, her life routine changed since she could not go outside and watch other people. So, unlikely to the rest of the characters, her life changed after the garden became a vacant lot again. Disappointed again during the winter, Florence became nostalgic and was waiting for the spring. Maybe spring will change something, and things will go back to normal. After the second snow melted, Florence regained the hope of seeing people back in the garden; however, no one was there. Florence was worried that people won’t come back, and the lot will stay empty forever. Then, one day, Florence passed the garden and saw someone digging in the garden. A little Asian girl (Kim) was planting some lima beans… Kim continued her mission and started working in the garden to show her father that she could grow plants as he did. To show that she was proud to be his daughter.
For me, this ending looks to be appropriate since we, as readers, have a hope that the life in the Cleveland neighborhood goes on. The new cycle started over, and the story will continue. The first character was back in the garden planting lima beans. So, things went back to normal, and this time will be much easier for everyone to come back. The lot was clean thanks to Leona; people knew each other and became more friendly. Everyone was waiting for an incentive, and the incentive appeared. She was in the garden, planting beans, and this was a hope that everyone else will come back. If I would have a chance to add something at the end of the story, I would close the story with the words from the Bible “And a little child shall lead them.”