Mayella keeps the red geraniums because they symbolize hope and beauty in her otherwise difficult and oppressive life. They serve as a source of comfort and joy for her, offering a glimpse of brightness and positivity in her challenging circumstances.
red geraniums
azaleas
In the book "To Kill a Mockingbird," Scout talks about Mayella's geraniums during the trial of Tom Robinson. She notices the lack of beauty and care in Mayella's life, symbolized by the red geraniums she attempts to grow. This observation highlights the poverty and neglect that Mayella experiences, contributing to the overall themes of injustice and compassion in the story.
Mayella Ewell
The Symbolic meaning of the flowers is to show that Mayella has a soft side to her. With her abusive/drunk father and lonely life, the flowers show that mayella only kissed tom because she has no one. The geraniums represent the only thing she has, and that she is just a young girl, looking for something to live for.
She has a red geranium she tends to, because she has no friends, its the only thing she does.
Mayella's flowers.
Geraniums symbolize stupidity and foolishness (which is why Miss Maudie would not dare have any on her property). Additionally, red (or scarlet) geraniums symbolize consolation. And since the color red/scarlet in itself symbolizes a wrongful act, one can interpret that Mayella's geraniums foreshadowed her immoral/heinous consolation--comfort received after a loss from a wicked or wrongful act. Tom's inevitable death is the loss, her false accusation that caused his death is the immoral act, and her "comfort" or consolation is not having the daily reminder that she "tempted a Negro." Another interpretation: Mayella's brilliant, red geraniums (cared for as tenderly as if they belonged to Miss Maudie Atkinson) found in a line against the fence in six chipped-enamel slop jars also serve as a symbol. In the Ewell yard - which is practically described as a dump - these objects of beauty somehow flourish under Mayella's care. These symbolize her hope to be better than her surroundings and for a better future, as well as her desperate need for love which she is unable to receive from her family. Another interpretation may be that the geraniums indicate that beauty and goodness can exist anywhere (even in the most corrupt places of society).
The clean red geraniums on the Ewell cabin porch suggest that Mayella takes some pride in her surroundings, unlike the rest of her family who tend to live in squalor. This attention to detail in maintaining the flowers may hint at Mayella's desire for beauty and a better life than what she experiences in her home.
They were made this way. There are different colors of hybrid geraniums that have been manufactured in the lab for variety.
The theme of "Red Geraniums" by Martha Haskell Clark centers around nature's ability to bring comfort and solace during difficult times. The tone of the poem is nostalgic and reflective, emphasizing the enduring beauty and significance of the red geraniums as a symbol of hope and renewal.
The red flowers commonly seen on balconies in Venice, Italy are called geraniums. They are popular for their vibrant color and ability to thrive in various growing conditions.