The first four paragraphs of "Marigolds" by Eugenia Collier provide readers with several details about the background and setting of the story:
1. The story is set during the Great Depression in a poverty-stricken African American community. The narrator mentions that "it was a time of great suffering," indicating economic hardship.
2. The narrator describes her childhood home as a "shanty" made of corrugated iron sheets. This suggests that the setting is in a very impoverished area with inadequate housing.
3. Marigolds are mentioned as a symbol of hope and beauty in the midst of this harsh environment. The narrator's father planted marigolds around their house, and they were the only spot of color in their drab surroundings.
4. The narrator mentions that "our ramshackle house was always clean and tidy," implying that despite the poverty, there is a sense of pride and dignity in their home.
Overall, the first four paragraphs establish a backdrop of poverty, struggle, and the symbolic significance of marigolds in the story's setting.