Rose Mellie Rose

"I told her that I am not a child anymore since I have had my first period and I am not virgin. She smiled, she said that still doesn't mean I am not a child" (40).

Mellie has a very naive and ignorant way of looking at the world. She only understands growing up in a physical sense. Throughout the novel she comments that Rose and others tell her that she is very developed for her age. Mellie believes she is growing up because she is physically maturing: she started her period, lost her virginity, and started growing her womanly figure. She does not consider her mental or emotional growth as maturing. Miss Martha tries to tell her that it takes more than physical growth to be considered an adult.