October
2009
“Hello, Blue Roses!”1
Laura: When I had the attack of pleurosis – he asked me what was the matter when I came back. I said pleurosis – he thought that I said Blue Roses! So that’s what he always called me after that. Whenever he saw me, he’s holler,”Hello, Blue Roses!”
This Blue Roses image can be compared with Laura emotionally. First, in some cultures as the American, the color “Blue” has had many interpretations according to the context. I believe that in this case the color “Blue” represents the feeling of sadness which can be interpreted as Laura’s feeling of sadness, melancholy. Then, the image of Blue Roses gives an idea of something peculiar, unnatural, exotic, because there are not Blue Roses in the nature, they are not natural. The roses are also considered as fragile, beautiful, pure, and delicate.
Flowers, especially roses, must be observed, admired, analyzed to understand and feel their beauty, and purity. Flowers admires try to look for flowers traits, characteristics, they try to understand their beauty, as The Little Prince did with his rose. All of these traits can describe Laura’s personality. During the story, we can observe the way she acts, her sensibility, her appearance of a fragile person, and a peculiar beauty which she has inside her.
In a book called “A Rich Man’s Secret” Ken Roberts use the rose’s meaning in the language of flowers which was common in Victorian times. This symbolism is to be able to grant the owner youth or grant wishes. In some cultures, blue roses mean mystery or attaining the impossible. In Chinese folklore, for example, blue roses signify hope against unattainable love.
Do you think the meanings of blue roses in other cultures can be applied to Laura? Is there a connection?
It would seem that the play also criticizes the society of the time for not being able to accept someone like Laura. The play shows there is no place for someone like her and ends with her blowing out her candles.