the flowers.

In "The Flowers", Alice Walker examines a particular contrast that parallels one of the world's most lonesome of traditions: the switch one must go through when they slip between the sunny, bright world of childhood into the more cruelly realistic world of adulthood. This theme is presented through Walker's use of summer and the final line of, "And summer was over." as a metaphor for the loss of Myop's innocence and childhood; in literature, the season of winter is sometimes represented as an old man, and summer as a young one, which lends credence to the theme present here.

Walker presents Myop's character as a naive young girl by using particular lines to lend to her characterization as a whole. When the text states that she often struck out at random chickens, it is a show of her immaturity. By abusing those poor birds with a stick, it reveals her nature as a young girl who hasn't yet grown out of childish cruelties.

She also skips, as young girls are wont to do, which is something that loses its charm once a person matures. Both of these are exacting choices in characterization that show Myop's youth.

Walker makes a distinct shift in style once Myop gets her foot caught in the skull ---- where there were once lighter descriptions ---- "strange blue flowers" and "velvety ridges" ---- there are instead heavier, more impactful diction choices: "naked grin" and "rotted remains". This is where the story shifts to its actual theme, and Walker reflects it.

The shift in diction can also be highly representative of the reality in growing up: things may seem at first very beautiful, but are in fact indicative of things which may be far more insidious. Even on glorious days, there can yet be corpses decomposing in the forest. And even though the world may be perfect in the eyes of a child, the predicaments of adults are still there, even if youth and naivete blind them.

Even Myop puts down both her flowers ---- and her innocence, her sweet summer ---- when faced with the adult reality of death. As do all people, at some point in their lives.

Walker examines the dilemma between youth and age ---- summer and winter ---- through the meticulous construction of her short story, "The Flowers", by touching on particular imagery related to those topics and the characterization of Myop.