the sun and her flowers

In the final chapter, the speaker looks beyond herself to the wider world. She is aware of what constitutes the social good and how it can be advanced. She wants to make her own unique contribution and is determined to encourage other women. She adopts a feminist stance, aware of how women have been oppressed by men, although she praises her father who encouraged his daughters to pursue education rather than pushing them into marriage. As a woman, she has learned to appreciate her body and trust its instincts. She is also aware that she is the first in her lineage to have freedom of choice and is thus able to fulfill her desires in life.

The speaker also thinks of what she can do to make life better for other women and imparts some life lessons. She has learned to value wholeness of mind and body as well as fulfillment that comes from within rather than outside herself. She applies this to physical appearance; despite what the beauty industry wants women to think, they are beautiful already. Beauty is not manufactured with cosmetics. Although women should not be competitive with one another, they should break through the “glass ceiling” that holds them back.