Marigolds (short story)

"Marigolds" is a short story written by Eugenia Collier, first published in Negro Digest in 1969. It is a coming-of-age story set in rural Maryland during the Great Depression. The story is told from the first-person perspective of Lizabeth, a young African American girl who is on the cusp of adolescence.

The central theme of "Marigolds" is the loss of innocence and the transition from childhood to adulthood. The story explores the contrast between the carefree days of childhood and the harsh realities of poverty, despair, and prejudice that Lizabeth faces as she matures. The marigolds themselves serve as a symbol of beauty, hope, and resilience in a bleak and desolate environment. Miss Lottie, an elderly and eccentric woman, cultivates a vibrant patch of marigolds in her yard, which provides a stark contrast to the surrounding dust and poverty.

Lizabeth and the other children in the neighborhood often torment Miss Lottie, driven by boredom and frustration. They see her marigolds as an easy target for their pent-up anger and resentment. The story culminates in Lizabeth destroying Miss Lottie's marigolds in a fit of rage after overhearing her parents arguing about their financial struggles.

This act of destruction represents Lizabeth's final break from childhood innocence. She understands the impact of her actions and recognizes the connection between Miss Lottie's marigolds and her own dwindling hope. In the aftermath, Lizabeth experiences remorse and begins to develop a sense of compassion and empathy. The story's ending suggests that Lizabeth eventually comes to understand the beauty and importance of planting and nurturing "marigolds" within herself and others, even in the face of hardship.