Clothing Symbol in Coming of Age in Mississippi

In Coming of Age in Mississippi, clothing symbolizes success and stability and, on a personal level for author Anne Moody, self-worth. For most of Anne’s childhood, Mama struggles to afford new school clothes for her and her siblings. When Anne gets elected Homecoming Queen in the eighth grade and Daddy buys her a new dress, she feels beautiful for the first time. Additionally, once Anne begins to work outside of Centreville over the summers, she is able to buy clothes that make her feel confident. Her self-worth is directly improved by these new clothes. As a young adult working in Canton, she uses her first paycheck to buy some local girls new school clothes, understanding the impact on their self-worth that it can have.

Clothing Quotes in Coming of Age in Mississippi

The Coming of Age in Mississippi quotes below all refer to the symbol of Clothing. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

The Intersection of Racism and Poverty Theme Icon

I looked so good that it became somewhat of a problem. Whenever I was in town white men would stare me into the ground.

Related Characters: Anne Moody (Essie Mae) (speaker)

Related Symbols: Clothing

Page Number and Citation: 199

Explanation and Analysis:

Clothing Symbol Timeline in Coming of Age in Mississippi

The timeline below shows where the symbol Clothing appears in Coming of Age in Mississippi. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Essie, Junior, and Adline watch the flames from a distance. Essie thinks about their new clothes—the first that were not hand-me-downs—and runs into the house after them. Before she can enter... (full context)

...She begins going over every Sunday to give the baby a bath and wash his clothes. Soon, Raymond goes back to the service and Mama stops bringing her family to see... (full context)

...Mr. Wheeler. They use the money that the earned from the pecans to buy new clothes for the children. (full context)

...eighth grade, her family is struggling with money more than ever. Because most of her clothes do not fit her, she begins wearing her jeans to school. When she gets extra... (full context)

Back in Centreville, with 65 dollars and new clothes, Anne runs into her classmate Doris. Doris tells her that the Guild ran Anne’s cousin... (full context)

...to Sheriff Ed Cassidy’s house, where she asks him to drive her to get her clothes. She tells Mama, “if I ever see you again, it won’t be here.” Adline cries... (full context)

...out of fear of white retaliation. The SNCC gets Northern college campuses to send food, clothing, and money, and, though many people do not register to vote and some even lose... (full context)

...own impoverished childhood. When Anne receives her first check from CORE, she spends it on clothes, books, and food for the children. Soon afterward, the CORE office receives clothing and food... (full context)

...school students in Canton. She bids the students to spread the word about their upcoming clothing drive, which hundreds of people attend. Anne is angry that the people won’t register to... (full context)

A few days after the clothing drive, a Black high school girl is raped by the white farmer she works for.... (full context)

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Clothing Symbol Analysis

Clothing Quotes in Coming of Age in Mississippi

Clothing Symbol Timeline in Coming of Age in Mississippi

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