Dolores Influence On Maya

Dolores impacts Maya, but does so indirectly. For most of Maya’s life, decisions for Maya were made for her by other people. By stabbing Maya, Dolores indirectly causes Maya to make a decision for herself- run away. Maya describes that because of Dolores, she is “out free” and “set thinking of my future” (213). Throughout the rest of the memoir, Maya continues to make decisions for herself as a result. Dolores also indirectly causes Maya to stay in the junkyard with the people that “welcomed me” (215). The junkyard allows Maya to become friends with people of different backgrounds and cultures. Maya feels that she will “never again...sense myself outside the pale of the human race” (216). Maya’s decision to stay at the junkyard shows that Maya
Flowers heals Maya and makes her feel strong. When Maya moves back to Stamps, she feels that she could “fall, without fear, right off the end of the world” (74). Maya is also completely silent and stays in her house most of the day. Mrs. Flowers invites Maya to her home and begins to read aloud to Maya. As Mrs. Flowers reads, Maya thinks that it seems like Mrs. Flowers is “nearly singing” (84). Maya immediately feels that “I had to speak” (84). The beauty of Mrs. Flowers’ words give Maya the strength to speak again. The words of Mrs. Flowers also convince Maya that Maya’s words are not always destructive, but have the power to be graceful and bring joy. Maya also describes Mrs. Flowers as “just as refined as white folks in the movies and books” but “more beautiful” because of “her warm color” (79). Maya concludes that Mrs. Flowers is beautiful because of her race, not in spite of it. As a result, Maya realizes that being black means that she is beautiful and intelligent. Because Mrs. Flowers treats Maya as an adult, Maya also feels “respected not as Mrs. Henderson’s grandchild or Bailey’s sister but for just being Marguerite Johnson” (85). The respect Mrs. Flowers has for Maya gives Maya strength and makes her feel loved and important. Mrs. Flowers also respects Maya’s silence, saying to Maya, “no one is going to make you talk” (82). This respect given to Maya and wisdom of the power of words and communication help Maya heal from the rape. Maya is so greatly impacted by
Flowers, being the lifeline to Maya, contrasts Mr. Freeman, who is the water Maya drowns in. Mr. Freeman makes Maya afraid to love. The first time Mr. Freeman molests Maya, “he held me so softly that I wished he wouldn’t ever let me go” (61). Mr. Freeman uses Maya’s desire to be loved for his own terrible desires. Maya enjoys experiencing this physical love and thus believes that what she is experiencing with Mr. Freeman is what love is. However, true love involves freely opening up yourself to someone. As Mr. Freeman rapes Maya, Maya concludes that love also involves a “breaking and entering, even when the senses are torn apart.” (65). As a result, Maya begins to believe that any form of romantic love will be like the rape, and will thus hurt her physically and emotionally. When Maya receives a love letter from her classmate, Tommy, Maya is scared and tells her best friend, Louise, “‘Well, I won’t. Most decidedly I won’t. Not ever again’” (121). Maya is afraid that being Tommy’s valentine will allow him to take advantage of her in the same way Mr. Freeman took advantage of Maya earlier in her childhood. Years after the rape, Maya is still afraid to open up and allow herself to experience