Elizabeth says that destroying the marigolds is her last act of childhood because it leads her to finally understand the underlying principle behind Miss Lottie’s seemingly mysterious habits. When Elizabeth destroyed Miss Lottie’s marigolds, Miss Lottie was there, observing her. Seeing Miss Lottie after committing this act allows her to stare upon a kind of genuineness which is hidden to childhood. Through her new perspective, Elizabeth learns to refrain from insincere judgments and she begins to have more empathy for others. Her more mature outlook characterizes her growth from childhood to young adult. She comprehended the true significance of the marigolds is beauty in the midst of ugliness and loses her innocence. This act of cruel destruction therefore and the narrator’s confrontation with Miss Lottie shoots her into being a woman and no longer a child.
