Several stories describe flowers for imagery or as a
symbol. Flowers are all unique and all
contribute to a story in their own way.
If someone is described as having rosy cheeks, that beautiful appearance
is actually derived from the Rose flower.
Yet, color affects the meaning of a flower as well. A dark colored Rose would have a more
negative connotation than a light colored Rose.
Flowers are important because they “[remove] carbon dioxides and toxins in the air” while “feed[ing]
the honeybee population” and “provide soothing sympathy to many of life’s ceremonies”(Pro-flowers.com). When a person brings a flower into their
house, it represents the outdoors and indoors coinciding. It shows how nature
and humans can interact without destruction.
To another point, a flowers smell is a powerful as a potent drug that
comes over you, and lulls through your mouth, and deep into your throat. In the story The Bluest Eye, by Toni
Morrison, she describes “marigolds” in the prologue of her book. By researching
the meaning of Marigolds the definition is “pain and grief”(Google-dictionary/search). Morrison uses this flower which ties into the
rest of the book which also has much pain and grief throughout it. Therefore, flowers are one of the most
symbolic references in nature, and can be used in any context.
Nice blog, Nate! I didn't know that Marigolds can be defined as pain and grief. I also agree with your insight on the importance of flowers in literature.
ReplyDeleteIt's cool how you picked one aspect of the prologue of Morrison's book (the marigold) and researched its connotations to be able to tie it in to one of the book's themes as a whole. I agree that nature is quite symbolic--such as the rosebush in The Scarlet Letter.
ReplyDeleteThe frequency of flowers as symbols is something I never really paid attention to before. I like how you explained that flowers provided imagery and symbolism not only through their visual imagery but through their definition and olfactory imagery as well.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that you found such a depressing definition for marigolds. Given their flamboyant and fiery coloring, and the fact that they maintain the beauty of their flowers well into fall as many other plants succumb to the changing weather, I've always thought of marigolds as a symbol for happiness and hope. In the context of The Bluest Eye, I'd like to suggest that perhaps the marigolds do symbolize hope that survives through adversity, and it is therefore the lack of marigolds that symbolizes the loss of hope and happiness - thus, the grief and pain thing you mention. I agree with your point about the strong symbolic significance of flowers in literature. Is there a specific significance in the picture you chose for this post?
ReplyDelete