The devastation of the Great Depression was experienced by many during the 1930s. This event was a very difficult time for many families, especially African American families in rural Maryland. Many stories have been written about families struggling during the Depression. Children were often expected to mature very quickly. In Eugenia Collier's “Marigolds,” Lizabeth, a young African American teenager, transforms from an immature, insensitive child to a compassionate woman in a time when many suffered hardship. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In “Marigolds,” Lizabeth’s childhood innocence begins as a carefree time in her life. The story begins with the main character remembering his childhood in a poor slum. Bored on a hot summer day, Lizabeth's younger brother Joey suggests some childish fun to pass the time. "I'll tell you what," Joey said finally, his eyes twinkling. "Let's go see Miss Lottie." The idea caught on straight away, because annoying Miss Lottie was always fun.” When they arrived at Miss Lottie's old decaying house, they planned their plan of attack. Mrs. Lottie's brightly colored marigolds stood out in her bare yard. Everyone threw stones at the marigolds while Miss Lottie took care of them. All the children hated those colorful flowers. “They interfered with the perfect ugliness of the place; they were too beautiful; they said too much for us not to understand...". Miss Lottie became angry at the children as they laughed wildly. Soon after, Lizabeth feels guilty for throwing the rocks at the flowers, but doesn't fully understand why she had these feelings. Lizabeth begins to experience the realization of her feelings, the turning point in becoming a compassionate woman. In the middle of the night, Lizabeth wakes up to her mother and father arguing about supporting the family and her father sobbing: “He sobbed loudly and painfully, and cried helplessly and helplessly in the dark night. I had never heard a man cry before. I didn't know men ever cried. I covered my ears with my hands but I couldn't stop the sound of my father's harsh, painful and desperate sobs." Hearing her father cry shattered Lizabeth's world. He had never heard a man cry before. Then, before he knew where he was going, he jumped out the window and started walking. He realized he was going to Miss Lottie's house. He jumped into Miss Lottie's flowerbed and crushed all the marigolds. “I leapt furiously into the piles of marigolds and pulled wildly, trampling and tearing and destroying the perfect yellow flowers.” They were all devastated when Miss Lottie came out to see what was happening. She stood looking at Lizabeth, and that was the moment Lizabeth's childhood faded away. He realized that Miss Lottie was not a witch, but "a broken old woman who had dared to create beauty in the midst of ugliness and sterility." Lizabeth's childhood innocence was gone. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In “Marigolds” by Eugenia Collier, Lizabeth, a young African American teenager, transforms from an immature, insensitive child, to a compassionate woman in a time when many suffered hardship. Lizabeth, like many other children during the Depression, experienced the end of childhood innocence and the beginning.