Positive Effects from Mother Figures on Marguerite Johnson...

In the book I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou, there are several women who play very important roles in Marguerite Johnson’s life and development. Marguerite had three women in her life that educated and provided her with useful skills, information, security, religion and love. Momma, Mrs. Flowers, and Ma’ Dear are mother figures in Marguerite’s life who provide her with the necessities and strength to help her through life, Momma taught Marguerite about religion and cleanliness and was a good role model when it came to being strong and powerful, Mrs. Flowers introduced and provided Marguerite with literature and Ma’ Dear who is Marguerite biological mother wasn’t with her as she was growing but she still played a very†¦show more content†¦Marguerite would pray whenever she felt lonely or felt that she needed to feel secure and taken care of. Momma also taught Marguerite about the importance of cleanliness, she was very str ict when it came to being clean. Marguerite remembers when momma would say, â€Å"Thou shall not be dirty† and â€Å"Though shall not be impudent†, Marguerite saw these rules as Momma’s two commandments, which had to be followed in order to live a happy life in Momma’s house. Marguerite saw these commandments as rules that she must not break because if she did she would feel the wrath of Momma Henderson, which was mainly physical. Marguerite says â€Å"Momma was famous for pulling the quilts off . . . examine our feet. If they weren’t clean enough . . . she took the switch . . .aptly placed burning reminders† Momma didn’t play around when it came to having a clean face and body, which probably encouraged or injected fear in Marguerite that kept Marguerite from going to bed dirty. Marguerite also recalls Momma seeing dirtiness as a sign of disrespect and in a way against God because â€Å"cleanliness [is] next to Godliness† an d if you weren’t clean you weren’t holly (27-28). Momma also showed Marguerite how to be independent and strong. Momma is a very strong and independent woman, she ran a store all by herself, she was financially stable, and had more money than the â€Å"powhitetrash† (28). Marguerite saw the strength and power that Momma