The Walking Dead: A closer look at the Cherokee rose legend

A closer look at the legend of the Cherokee rose that Daryl Dixon told Carol Peletier when Sophia was lost reveals much more about the apocalypse, and Daryl and Carol on The Walking Dead.

On the surface, it was just a beautiful gesture and a story of hope so Carol wouldn’t give up on finding Sophia. It showed us that Daryl had a heart. It was a lovely moment on the show and it doesn’t need to be anything more.

But upon closer look at the legend. It is more. Quite a bit more. It ties Daryl and Carol together in many interesting ways. They both had abusive pasts and were embarrassed by their families. They loved and defended their families yet needed to be free of them to find themselves.

Here is a version of the legend. (Via Powersource)

The Legend of the Cherokee Rose

“In the latter half of 1838, Cherokee People who had not voluntarily moved west earlier were forced to leave their homes in the East.The trail to the West was long and treacherous and many were dying along the way. The People’s hearts were heavy with sadness and their tears mingled with the dust of the trail.

The Elders knew that the survival of the children depended upon the strength of the women. One evening around the campfire, the Elders called upon Heaven Dweller. They told Him of the People’s suffering and tears. They were afraid the children would not survive to rebuild the Cherokee Nation.

This plant will be sturdy and strong with stickers on all the stems. It will defy anything which tries to destroy it.

He spoke to them, “To let you know how much I care, I will give you a sign. In the morning, tell the women to look back along the trail. Where their tears have fallen, I will cause to grow a plant that will have seven leaves for the seven clans of the Cherokee. Amidst the plant will be a delicate white rose with five petals. In the center of the blossom will be a pile of gold to remind the Cherokee of the white man’s greed for the gold found on the Cherokee homeland. This plant will be sturdy and strong with stickers on all the stems. It will defy anything which tries to destroy it.”

As the plant protected its blossoms, they knew they would have the courage and determination to protect their children who would begin a new Nation

The next morning the Elders told the women to look back down the trail. A plant was growing fast and covering the trail where they had walked. As the women watched, blossoms formed and slowly opened. They forgot their sadness. Like the plant, the women began to feel strong and beautiful. As the plant protected its blossoms, they knew they would have the courage and determination to protect their children who would begin a new Nation in the West.”

Daryl and Carol

The fact that Sophia didn’t live does not negate any part of the story of the Cherokee rose. Sophia dying was the beginning of the fulfillment of the story. Carol and Daryl are both roses that have bloomed from the tears of the apocalypse.

The zombies have forced people from their homes. Forced them to suffer sickness and death and sadness. Their future is uncertain. The survival of the living depends on the strength of the good people left and their ability to protect the children and those who will rebuild civilzation when the time comes.

The apocalypse has created beautiful people in Daryl and Carol.  Each one, in his own way, “protects its blossoms” and “defies anything which tries to destroy it.”

Carol, even more literally protecting the children, took in Lizzie and Mika. Lizzie and Mika saved Judith and Tyreese. And by finding Tyreese with the girls, Carol was able to save Judith from Lizzie. Carol also saved Sam, in her own thorny way, from his dad. We’ll have to see how Sam and Judith and Maggie’s baby figure into the Cherokee rose field.

Daryl found another Cherokee rose, when he was tired and lost. This rose was on a walker. Daryl needed hope and strength to keep going while he was dealing with being kidnapped and trying to get back to Sasha and Abraham and ultimately back to Alexandria.

The Cherokee rose is not a miracle. It’s a symbol of strength, hope, prickly beauty and determination. There will be sadness. There will be death. They need courage to keep going. The Cherokee rose reminds them of that.