Critical Analysis Of Alice Walker's 'The Flowers'

Transitional states of maturity can be challenged or championed by unexpected discoveries which can be confronting or provocative. This is explored through Alice Walker’s 1973 prose fiction, “The Flowers”, as the protagonist’s view on the world is transformed due to the personal zemblanic discovery made. The short story explores the themes of loss of innocence and death in order to address cultural indifference and the prejudice experienced by certain groups within society, which in turn causes individuals to be effected negatively. Walker hopes to evoke sense of political and social reflection in her audience, hoping that intimate discoveries of past inequity by her readers will ensure cultural equity maintains future momentum.
An individual’s

A sense of life symbols is created in, “Where the family got drinking water” (…). Myop’s jocund jaunt through the forest is described using flowery imagery and symbolism, “an armful of strange blue flowers with velvety ridges and a sweet suds bush full of brown, fragrant buds”. The strange blue flowers hold symbolic meaning as it represents Myop’s innocence, and ultimately the loss of innocence. Such an exploration of the confronting nature of discoveries seeks to evoke a sense of empathy and reflection in the audience (this can be a link to the next paragraph)
An individual’s perception of the world can be shattered by unexpected provocative discoveries. Walker explores the loss of innocence due to zemblanic discoveries made by the protagonist. The use of foreshadowing in, “Today she made her own path”, declares the way in which Myop has decided to take control of her own destiny, which is important as making her own path will lead to a wider perception of the realities of the world. The