Colors of the Rainbow

"That streak of green from the june-bug light, the purple from the berries trickling along my thighs, Mama's lemonade yellow runs sweet in me... Only thing I miss sometimes is that rainbow. But like I say, I don't recollect it much anymore" (Morrison, 131). In numerous ways, this quote is remarkably sad but also strikingly beautiful. This quote marks the loss of innocence that Pauline has experienced throughout her life; the extravagant colors of life lost in the treacherous reality of life. This simple quote represents all the hurdles that Pauline has had to overcome, like her husband and unforgiving society, which have dulled out the colors in her life. The part of this quote which I find touching is when Pauline says "Only thing I miss sometimes is that rainbow". When she says she is missing the rainbow, she is referring to her childhood she missed out on just like "She missed--without knowing what she missed--paints and crayons" (111). However, when she says she missed the rainbow, she has finally realized what she missed by being so lonesome and obsessed with numbers, the paints and crayons; or in reality, the colors of life which she has long last felt. I myself can relate to this. Just today I was reminiscing on my childhood and how if I could, I would return to those carefree and colorful days. However, similarly to Pauline, I cannot recollect it much anymore due to the realities of today

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