What Does Mrs. Flowers Symbolize
Power in the Voice
In the short exert from Maya Angelou, language is used to express feelings, instill emotions in others, and separate classes of people. Language is a key element in the expression of oneself. We will see how Marguerite sees Mrs. Flowers and how she changes her life forever with the understanding and importance of the spoken words and what it symbolizes.
After being raped at the tender age of 8 years old, Marguerite Johnson entered into a cocoon. This was her haven against the world after she was raped. Marguerite explains, “I sopped around the house, the store, the school and the church, like an old biscuit, dirty and inedible”(Angelou, 1970 ,p.87). This shows her low self-esteem and unhappiness within herself. As with …show more content…
Flowers was put on a god like pedestal. Marguerite says, “Mrs. Bertha Flowers was the aristocrat of Black Stamp” (Angelou, 1970, p87). Using the word aristocrat defines the high level of status and importance of this beautiful black woman in her eyes. She was an educated woman who defied the role of what a black woman was suppose to be during the great depression. Her admiration for Mrs. Flowers is clearly displayed when she said, “when she chose to smile at me I always wanted to thank her. The action was so graceful and inclusively benign. She was one of the few gentlewomen I have ever known and has remained throughout my …show more content…
Flower shows her the power of a voice, the knowledge of literature, and pride in her race. Mrs. Flowers encourages Marguerite to read great works of literature, and pay attention to the usage of language. The power in your voice can break barriers and help you to communicate to reach your goals. “….language is man’s way of communicating with his fellow man and it is language alone which separates him from the lower animals”, (Angelou, 1970, p.89). Marguerite sees Mrs. Flowers as the ideal woman, someone above common people, and someone to be emulated and respected. Her influence would help Marguerite break out of her cocoon and become more interested in language and literature. Hopefully this would help her to gain confidence in her own
In the short exert from Maya Angelou, language is used to express feelings, instill emotions in others, and separate classes of people. Language is a key element in the expression of oneself. We will see how Marguerite sees Mrs. Flowers and how she changes her life forever with the understanding and importance of the spoken words and what it symbolizes.
After being raped at the tender age of 8 years old, Marguerite Johnson entered into a cocoon. This was her haven against the world after she was raped. Marguerite explains, “I sopped around the house, the store, the school and the church, like an old biscuit, dirty and inedible”(Angelou, 1970 ,p.87). This shows her low self-esteem and unhappiness within herself. As with …show more content…
Flowers was put on a god like pedestal. Marguerite says, “Mrs. Bertha Flowers was the aristocrat of Black Stamp” (Angelou, 1970, p87). Using the word aristocrat defines the high level of status and importance of this beautiful black woman in her eyes. She was an educated woman who defied the role of what a black woman was suppose to be during the great depression. Her admiration for Mrs. Flowers is clearly displayed when she said, “when she chose to smile at me I always wanted to thank her. The action was so graceful and inclusively benign. She was one of the few gentlewomen I have ever known and has remained throughout my …show more content…
Flower shows her the power of a voice, the knowledge of literature, and pride in her race. Mrs. Flowers encourages Marguerite to read great works of literature, and pay attention to the usage of language. The power in your voice can break barriers and help you to communicate to reach your goals. “….language is man’s way of communicating with his fellow man and it is language alone which separates him from the lower animals”, (Angelou, 1970, p.89). Marguerite sees Mrs. Flowers as the ideal woman, someone above common people, and someone to be emulated and respected. Her influence would help Marguerite break out of her cocoon and become more interested in language and literature. Hopefully this would help her to gain confidence in her own