Interpretation of literary

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it. In Ihe rhetorical question "Doesn't he care, Vern?". Nelly expresses 
more surprise, bewilderment than indignation. She refuses to believe 
that it is possible to turn out of the house an expectant mother. 
Further the story is given in the form of a "stage" narration. The 
language is simple, laconic and restrained. But the tension of the text is 
none the less impressive. It is achieved by the syntactical arrangement of 
the text. Short sentences, simple structures, logical succession of the 
actions convey the inner concentration of the heroes. The most 
expressive is the sentence: "They had to move and move that day". 
Repetition of the word "move" given in the form of ana-diplosis 
emphasises the word and suggests an idea that this "move'" is connected 
with both physical and moral difficulties. It is not hy accident that the 
word "trudge" is used here. It means to walk Jabo-riosly or wearily. The 
word reinforces the effect and acquires a great emotional quality. 
An episode describing the blossoming of the last summer flowers can be 
regarded as an artistic detail, which has a deep implication very 
important for interpreting. The wild flowers unlike the garden flowers 
do not require special care and conditions. They grow and blossom on 
any soil, among the weeds and scrub, along the sides of the ditches. But 
the beauty and fragrance of such flowers are none the less attractive. It 
becomes apparent that the image of wild flowers in this episode together 
with the title, with which it is semantically linked symbolize courage 
and endurance of the heroes, their love, which fears no difficulties. 
It should be noted that text interpretation allows different approaches if 
we seek to penetrate deeper into the purport of the writer. A careful 
analysis of the language means makes it possible to give one more 
interpretation of this episode, which though may seem doubtful to the 
reader, is very interesting. 
The last summer flowers attract Nellie's attention, make her stop and 
look for blossom. The word "last" conveys some additional information 
about the inner state of the heroine. Subconsciously Nelly feels that 

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these flowers are "last" for her, she would never see them again. If we 
interpret it this way, the word "weeds" may stirr up in the reader's mind 
another meaning of the word—'mourning clothes'. Thus, the whole 
episode becomes an omen of Nelly's death. It should be admitted that 
this interpretation is possible only in retrospective analysis of the story. 
Developing his theme further the author tells us about Nellie's sufferings 
("She felt a dizziness as soon as she was on her feet, every step pained 
her, her limbs felt as though they were beingpulled from her body"), her 
efforts to overcome pain ("she bit her lips and crushed her fingers in her 
fists"), her desire to conceal everything from Vern not to worry him 
("She didn't want him to worry, she tried to srnilc"). Nellie's behaviour, 
her courage and endurance can't but arouse a great sympathy and deep 
respect. 
An important artistic detail is used in the episode describing Negroes. 
Seeing a white man they were frightened to death and hid themselves in 
the room. This trivia! at first sight episode is of great significance. It 
shows the position of Negroes in America, their rightlessness and 
misery. 
The climax and denoument of the story—Nellie's death and Vern's 
despair. To describe Vern's inner state the author uses one of the means 
of foregrounding—the convergence of Stylistic Devices. Here repetition, 
periphrasis, parallel constructions in different forms emphasize one and 
the same idea—Vern's mind being completely blank with grief. The 
emotional effect of this passage is intensified by its rhythmical 
arrangement. All these stylistic devices form another stylistic device—
climax, which heightens the stylistic effect, helps to bring out the 
intensity of Vern's feelings. 
The conceptual information of the story is the story of the protest against 
poverty and rightlessness of the poor, cruelty and inhumanity of the rich. 
It should be noted that Caldwell doesn't openly disclose his outlook, his 
evaluation of objective facts and phenomena. He does it through 
description of events and personages, their actions and their attitude to 
each other. Especial importance in this story assumes the description of 
relations between the heroes, their genuine love, care, devotion to one 
another. 
In many of his stories Caldwell tells us of a demoralizing influence 
poverty and misery produce on a human soul. With this story it is quite 
different. Hardships and sufferings do not harden Vern's and Nelly's 
hearts, do not kill their feelings. It is sufficient to recall some episodes: 

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Nelly's waiting for Vern to wake up, the way Nelly stood her ordeal, 
Vern's reaction to Nelly's death. In this respect the story and its title 
assume a new interpretation: "Wild Flowers" symbolize Vern's and 
Nelly's love, which notwithslanding the hardships and • poverty, grows 
and blossoms giving fragrance and pleasure to eye. The story is not only 
a tragedy of two young people, it is a hymn toj love, kindness and 
beauty.