Who Is The Perfect Flower In Fifth Of July

In Lanford Wilson’s Fifth of July, Jed’s garden illuminates what it means to have hope in a world of struggle. Although his plants will take many years to grow, there is comfort in knowing that beauty will rise from the ground signifying that hope can overcome pain. At the beginning of Act II, Jed and Shirley engage in a banter regarding different flowers. Jed goes on to explain that roses do not “flower until May” (48), “anemones bloom in March” (49), and “apple blossoms” (48) are the “first tree of spring to” (48) flower displaying his vast knowledge of plants. In this moment, Shirley makes an effort to show Jed that matching a flower to her persona is “very important” (49). By wanting the perfect flower to mirror her own image of herself, Shirley’s desire emphasizes the goodness of flowers. Moreover, not only does Jed know the ins and outs of flowers, but his garden collection compliments his profound knowledge. However, he does not …show more content…
Towards the end of act II, Kenny fervently states that they “have over a hundred lilies Jed grew from seeds two years ago; going to bloom this August” (69). Kenny is focusing on the lilies because he is feeding off of the hope that beauty will bloom in August. A part of him struggles to hand over the house because he knows that Jed’s army of lilies will bloom soon and he cannot bear to lose the guarantee of goodness that the flowers provide him. Flowers may seem temporary, but just because one cannot see their petals does not mean their seedlings exist below the surface. When Kenny was in Vietnam, he lacked something constant: perhaps, hope. Hope is one of the most powerful things someone can have. Hope is a feeling of trust, a security, and a reason to keep going. Because Jed and Kenny have cultivated a seasonal burst of blossoms, they have found their reason to keep