Emily Gao Lit/Writ 4 Dalgleish 10 December 2014 Freedom of Flowers Through the ages, flowers have been given during times of illness for healing, for love, for friendship, for respect. Flowers inspire society to forgive and have hope. In her novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses flowers as symbols of positivity. The novel revolves around two Depression-era children that are exposed to the prejudices of the society through a trial involving the rape of a young girl. Flowers like camellias, azaleas, and geraniums symbolize being free, finding joy, and growth as time passes on. Lee teach readers about being happy through flowers. One of the flowers, the camellia, symbolizes Mrs. Dubose’s goal to be free of her addiction and to be true …show more content…
to herself. Camellias are survivors that have to be torn out by their roots to die.
The strength of camellias is reflected in Mrs. Dubose forgiving Jem and in her wish to be free from an age-old addiction of morphine, which leads to her finding herself. One day, Mrs. Dubose angers Jem, so he ruins her camellias. For his punishment, Jem reads to her for hours on some days. Mrs. Dubose’s strength is further displayed when she forgives others for wronging her. One day, when Jem is reading to Mrs. Dubose, she rebukes him: “‘I told you you’d live to regret tearing up my camellias’... ‘Well, Jessie says the top’s growing back out’”(Lee 109), which suggests that she has forgiven him, and no permanent harm is done. Forgiveness is a depiction of strength because one must be able to rise above the anger to move on with one’s life. Some would argue that not having revenge on someone for doing something wrong is cowardly, but on the contrary, forgiveness frees one from having to fuss over something trivial that only will harm oneself. Dubose, noting that the flowers are growing back, suggests that as time passes on, she will also find herself, free and healed from her …show more content…
addiction. Mrs. Dubose is strong because she will not concede defeat, no matter how bad the odds are. She could have easily succumbed to the morphine and overdosed, but instead, she fights it until her last dying breath. Being herself releases Mrs. Dubose from this world and all its terrors, and she is finally at rest. After her death, Atticus comes back from her house to the children bearing a candy box for Jem. Inside there was a perfect Snow-on-the-Mountain camellia that shows Dubose’s thanks and forgiveness: “that was her way of telling [Jem]-- everything’s all right now” (112). Scout later sees Jem twirling the flower in his hands. This scene suggests that Jem’s maturity allows him to discern what the camellia represents. He realizes that Mrs. Dubose is thankful for him because he eased her pain while she was going through withdrawal. Also, he understands that Dubose has forgiven him for wrecking her flowers, and Lee suggests that she is at peace in a better, painless world. Camellias are a symbol of forgiveness and strength in To Kill a Mockingbird; these flowers explain to readers that forgiveness is an important part of being strong, and it helps the healing process and leads to freedom. Another flower is the azalea; they are known for their long lives and their hardiness. Ms. Maudie raises them with lots of love; they represent her resilience and optimism; and ultimately, they make her happy. Maudie is unprejudiced compared to those around her just like how her flowers stand tall and thrive even when surrounded by harsh environments. She is known for not submitting to Maycomb’s norms, unlike most people in the novel. When Ms. Maudie’s house suddenly burns down, she is optimistic for the future and declares that she always “‘wanted a smaller house, Jem Finch. Gives me more yard. Just think, I’ll have more room for my azaleas now!’”(73). Throughout this ordeal, the whole town is with Maudie to help and comfort her, but Ms. Maudie is not worried about herself. On the contrary, she frets over the safety of the townspeople. Lee reveals that Maudie is a selfless person who puts others and their needs above her own. Instead of being upset at the fact that her house and all her possessions are gone, Ms. Maudie is optimistic of the future, hence her resilience. She focuses on the good not the bad; she believes that there will be more space to cultivate her azaleas, her happiness. Throughout the novel, Ms. Maudie seems generally happy and unencumbered by dark thoughts, no matter what situation she is in. However, she becomes angry when people criticise her way of life (gardening). People she calls “foot washing baptists” assert that Ms. Maudie and her azaleas will go to hell because they believe “anything that’s pleasure is a sin”(44). These baptists insist Maudie should not be outside enjoying her life and freedom but should be inside reading the Bible and not be having any fun. Instead she stands firm like her flowers and tends to her garden, her optimism, every day. Doing this day in and day out brings Maudie pure joy. Because of her flowers, she lives her life carefree and with happiness. From Maudie and her azaleas, one learns that resilience and optimism will bring joy. Yet another flower is the “bright red geranium”, Mayella Violet Ewell’s flower.
Lee reveals that Mayella is like her flower, trying very hard to survive and grow through hardships. Her very name “Violet” suggests this. Mayella lives with her family in the dumps, but still makes an effort to be a lady by staying clean and caring for her flowers and her brothers: she has “six chipped-enamel slop jars holding brilliant red geraniums, cared for as tenderly as if they belonged to Ms. Maudie Atkinson; had Ms. Maudie deigned to permit a geranium”(170-171). The cracked pots and lesser flowers reveal her lower standards, but she still makes an effort to grow and become a lady. Being a Ewell and living in a dump makes becoming a respectable lady very difficult journey. Similarly, her geraniums have a hard time growing bigger in its environment because of their lack of nutrients and love. Unlike the rest of her family, she cares about her social status. Lee reveals that Mayella’s home life is hard; and while Bob Ewell beats and rapes her, his daughter, Mayella is entirely dependent and him. Mayella wants to be free from her current life but cannot because she has no way to support herself. Mayella believes that if she grows into a honorable lady, she may be able to lose her old life like dead petals and become anew. Like her flowers, Mayella tries to survive in a harsh environment and barely succeeds. During the trial aiming to convict Tom Robinson, an innocent African American, for
the rape of Mayella, Scout wonders if “anybody had ever called her ‘ma’am’ or ‘Miss Mayella’”(182). During her testimony, Mayella is furious because she thinks Atticus is making fun of her when he is actually being courteous. Lee implies that Mayella has never been shown politeness before the trial. During the trial, it is also revealed that she is treated very poorly at home, which is unusual because home life for most is a good, warm place, where one is safe and always supported and loved. Family teaches one right from wrong, and it guides one on the path of goodness. However, Mayella does not have this privilege, and has to grow without any guidance from her family. Hence, her struggles for growth. Lee shows readers the importance of family for growth through Mayella. Without the support of a loving family, it is very challenging to become a respectable person in a society. Thus flowers symbolize what is most important for certain characters, and how these characters are unique in their own ways. Mrs. Dubose’s camellias reveals her need to become free and to forgive; Ms. Maudie’s joy through optimism and doing what she believes is right; and Mayella’s growth without help from a loving family. Through flowers, Lee teaches readers how to live their lives happily without pain and worry. Lee explains that being able to forgive reveals strength and true courage. One learns that freedom comes from growth and forgiveness, which eventually leads to happiness.
Mayella is not one of those of other people in the small town of Maycomb that lives in a nice neighborhoods. Mayella lives behind a garbage dump with her father and siblings. During the trial of Tom Robinson, Scout describes Mayella’s home. ‘“Maycomb’s Ewells lived behind the town garbage dump in what was once a Negro cabin….Its windows were merely open spaces in the walls….What passed for a fence was bits of tree-limbs, broomsticks and tool shafts….Enclosed by this barricade was a dirty yard….”’ Mayella only has one thing that keeps her sane from all the horribly things that has been happening. Which is her red geraniums, Scout says that they are well nurtured by Mayella. Mayella has six of these red geraniums at the corner of her yard. Mayella and her father lives in the neighborhood of Negroes, nor would ever bother them except Tom because he's to nice of a person. “....white people wouldn’t have anything to do with her because she lived among pigs; Negroes [the Ewells’ nearest neighbors] wouldn’t have anything to do with her because she was white….” Mayella would not be powerful in the role of class because of where she lived and what she wored.
Mayella (white), goes to court against Tom Robinson (African American), where Mayella is accusing Tom Robinson of rape. When Atticus asks Mayella questions, Atticus mishears Mayella. An example of Mayella’s lack of power is when Atticus closes his argument by describing Mayella’s injuries during the court case. “Mayella Ewell was beaten savagely by someone who led almost exclusively with his left.”
What does the flowers symbolize in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee? There are several different flowers that symbolize different things. For instance, the characters all have different personalities. There are many different characters, for example, Miss Maudie symbolizes pink azaleas, Mrs. Dubose symbolizes white camellias, and Mayella Ewell symbolizes red geraniums.
Throughout the novel, Bob Ewell is profusely illustrated as an abrasive, abusive, and generally unpleasant man who hasn’t a care for his children. As Tom says when describing why he would help Mayella: “Mr. Ewell didn’t seem to help her much” (263) . In addition, Bob Ewell plays a major role as to why Mayella lies in court, in fact he makes her do so. To cover up for his own crime he says that Tom Robinson was “ruttin' on my Mayella!" (231) . The most substantive and saddening display of Mr. Ewell’s character is when Tom directly reveals the abuse taking place. In his testimony, Tom explains that his accuser threatens Mayella after seeing the two of them together (263). Even if Mayella was able to overcome the social repercussions of telling the truth, she would face the tragic domestic abuse that her father is evidently capable of. Like striving towards acceptance, resisting oppression is another example of human instinct. As following instinct is by definition natural, one must have sympathy for Mayella
During the Tom Robinson Trial, Mayella is called up to the chair, asked a few questions and after she has had enough, she screams, "I got somethin ' to say an ' then I ain 't gonna say no more. That nigger yonder took advantage of me an ' if you fine fancy gentlemen don 't wanta do nothin ' about it then you 're all yellow stinkin ' cowards, stinkin ' cowards, the lot of you. Your fancy airs don 't come to nothin '—your ma 'amin ' and Miss Mayellerin ' don 't come to nothin ', Mr. Finch-" (She is scared of the town knowing that she is wrong and Tom robinson is innocent. Mayella uses this case to cover up the shame in her life because she is extremely lonely, has no self-esteem, and overwhelmed with the amount of unhappiness in her life. Mayella gets extremely defensive in this quote because she knows that everything Atticus has brung up is good evidence and she can’t hold her own. In the jury, it was full of all white men. Mayella acted timid and helpless and suggested in her comment that the man of the jury be brave and heroic. She becomes someone who is vulnerable, valuable and needs to be
The author George Elliot once said “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Appearance can be very misleading, and you shouldn't prejudge the worth or value of something by its outward appearance alone. This philosophical idea has been included in many works of literature, including the timeless classic To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee. The novel takes place in the town of Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s. Many citizens of Maycomb tend to make judgements based on outward appearances alone. In the novel, Lee uses minor characters such as Boo Radley, Mrs. Dubose, and Tom Robinson to convey the book’s theme of prejudice.
The main symbolic image that the flowers provide is that of life; in the first chapter of the novel Offred says “…flowers: these are not to be dismissed. I am alive.” Many of the flowers Offred encounters are in or around the house where she lives; it can be suggested that this array of floral life is a substitute for the lack of human life, birth and social interaction. The entire idea of anything growing can be seen as a substitute for a child growing. The Commander’s house contains many pictures; as they are visual images, “flowers are still allowed.” Later, when Serena is “snipping off the seed pods with a pair of shears… aiming, positioning the blades… The fruiting body,” it seems that all life is being eradicated, even that of the flowers.
Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” takes place during the 1930’s in the fictional and quiet town of Maycomb, located in Maycomb County, Alabama. The town of Maycomb is described as a tired old town that moves very slowly and its residents have nothing to fear but fear itself. Being in set in the South during the 1930’s the story does tackle racism and inequality for African Americans as racism was becoming more and more prominent in the 1930’s. The fact that the story takes place in a backwater county in Alabama makes the the injustice even more prevalent. The story goes through the early years of the main characters Jem and Scout so the exact time is always changing, however, the more important and intense parts of the story takes place
I’m Brook, and will be telling you about the movie To Kill A Mockingbird. The book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee was published in 1960, the film came soon after in 1962. As you're reading this essay I will tell you about the plot of the movie, the conflicts in the film, my opinion of the movie, and about my favourite character. The story is told from the perspective of Scout, she narrates the film as a flashback.
The roses in the garden are something the serving-man remarks on “roses occasionally suffer from black spot . . . It is always advisable to purchase goods with guarantees…” (Aldiss 450) Here Teddy reports directly to the need for replacement of such false reality in order to omit imperfections. The rose is initiated earlier as a symbol for Monica, when she plucks one and shows it to David, and at the end he picks one as a reminder of her. And Teddy senses the importance of the roses for the mother and the child as he tries to bond
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is an emblem of racial jurisdiction. All throughout the book it shows how the law applies to blacks as opposed to whites. Lee shows how unjust the treatment of blacks is and the disregard for their human rights. Though through the actions of the characters in the book; it can be said that their actions show a glimmer of hope for this very prejudiced society.
The chrysanthemums is a story about a lady named Elisa, who is trapped and enclosed in a small world that she cannot escape from and that is her Husband’s ranch. Since she was a woman in 1930’s, she could not do much because women were believed not to be strong. She would spend her time planting chrysanthemums, and cleaning the ranch because she could not do anything else. That is the way she would relieve herself, but mostly with the chrysanthemum, and I will talk about the symbolism of the chrysanthemums. First, she did not have any children, and we know that most women’s dream is to have children, and she felt alone. Second, the chrysanthemums represents her femininity and soul. Third, it also symbolized how she wanted to put her mind on something, before she got bored, those flowers represent her only imagination of freedom.
...only known as a funeral flower. This again foreshadows the young bride’s death before her allowance of corruption. The mark on her forehead is a symbol of her mistake, a mistake she is never allowed to forget, this can be linked to the view that women are never allowed to forget a mistake made by them. Angela Carter again shows the position of women in society; once a mistake is made you are an outcast in society. This can also be linked to the biblical reference of Cane, ‘him who became an outcast’.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, there are several flowers being attributed to specific characters. The flowers in the novel are being used as a symbol to why these characters were given this exact flower. The four characters were Mrs. Dubose and she took on the Camellia, Miss Maudie Atkinson who had the Azalea, Mayella Ewell who had not one but two flowers the Violet and Geranium, and lastly Calpurnia who attained the Calpurnia flower. Mrs. Dubose, Miss Maudie, Mayella Ewell, and Calpurnia and the flowers they are associated with, provide a great deal of symbolism which allows a better understanding of a them.
The fact that Laura is using this flower to reject a man suggests Laura’s repression, her restraint and prevention of a feeling. Lupe is Laura’s maid she advises her to throw the flower out of the window as a symbol to stop serenading her. Lupe tells her not to trust any man, Lupe fails to tell Laura that the flower actually is a symbol of encouragement for him to come back night after night. Lupe deceives Laura “with the culture and it’s social conventions” This emphasizes Laura’s alienation. (Flowering Judas 28) Laura finds herself in a nightmare in which she feels she cannot escape. “Then eat these flowers, poor prisoner, said Eugenio in a voice of pity, tale and eat: and from the Judas tree he stripped the warm bleeding flowers, and held them to her lips.”(Porter) Laura finds herself in a nightmare where she is again eating the flower greedily, but this time the flower doubles as a symbol of the Eucharist, except in which the body and blood she consumes doesn't belong to Christ but to Eugenio. The flower also signifies and is a sign of purification and corruption. The flower name refers to Judas Iscariot, Christ betrayer. According to mythology, out of repentance of his deed the tree is where he hung himself. The flower symbolizes betrayal of christ. This reflects Laura’s alienation from catholicism of her childhood, the revolutionary cause. She in this way portrays and is similar, like Judas himself. (Flowering Judas 28). By Porter using symbolism as the main point in her story it really brings together all of the other devices used in the story and shows the true meaning of the