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Odour of chrysanthemum essay
John steinbeck the chrysanthemums symbolism
John steinbeck the chrysanthemums symbolism
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John Steinbeck's 'The Chrysanthemums' and D.H. Lawrence's 'The Odour of Chrysanthemums'
Women in the 1900s were given little attention. John Steinbeck and D.H
Lawrence however have chosen to base their short stories on a single
woman character and around a type of flower, which is the
chrysanthemum. Though written by male writers, both stories give an
insight of the feelings and actions of a female character in that time
period and how chrysanthemums can mean an entirely different obsession
towards the two main characters.
John Steinbeck's 'The Chrysanthemums' is about a tinker who confronts
Elisa Allen while she was working on her prized chrysanthemums. Elisa
was impressed of the tinker's freedom and his way of life. The tinker
offers his service, repairing pots and pans, to Elisa, but she refuses
at first. However, the tinker does not give up and tells Elisa about a
customer that would be interested in her chrysanthemums. Elisa's
attitude instantly changed and after her discussion with tinker she
finds some work for the tinker to work on. Elisa's husband, Henry,
takes her out later to the city for dinner. To her dismay she finds
her lovely chrysanthemums dumped by the roadside by the tinker.
D.H Lawrence, however, writes about Elizabeth Bates and her children
who wait for the return of Walter, husband and father, who is late in
his homecoming. Elizabeth has a brief meeting with her father. Not
waiting any longer, Elizabeth and her children have dinner. Elizabeth
puts her children to sleep and then goes out to look for her husband.
It turns out that the husband had an accident and is now dead.
Elizabeth's mother in law visits her and together they clean the dead
Walter, while reminiscing the past....
... middle of paper ...
...not be offered to strangers.
However, in 'Odour of Chrysanthemums,' Elizabeth realises she has
never really known Walter and is ashamed to handle him. She
experiences fear for she is aware that she has no control over her
destiny and that she cannot escape death.
Both stories do not have a happy ending, but instead deal with
different aspects of life. 'The Chrysanthemums' with society and
trust, whereas 'Odour of Chrysanthemums' with fate and death. I feel
that John Steinbeck offers a better ending because it teaches us not
to trust strangers with ease and gives us the message that we should
be happy with what we have, not to envy others. Then again, the ending
in 'Odour of chrysanthemums' is also true but I feel that it is too
harsh. It is a fact that every creature will encounter death but death
should not be Elizabeth's or anyone's 'ultimate master.'
The most significant journeys are always the ones that transform us, from which we emerge changed in some way. In Paulo Coelho’s modern classic novel The Alchemist, and Robert Frost’s poem The Road Not Taken, the journey that is undertaken by the central exponents leaves both with enlightening knowledge that alters their lives irrevocably. In stark contradiction to this, Ivan Lalic’s poem Of Eurydice , delves into the disruptive and negative force of knowledge, in contrast to The Alchemist which details an antithesis of this point relative to knowledge. In all journeys, the eventuality of knowledge is a transformative one.
Experiencing a tragedy at a young age causes many problems as that individual grows up. The most common effects are changes in usual behavior, episodes of crying or sadness, and suicidal thoughts. In The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd, and The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D Salinger, the death of a close sibling causes two characters to act out and experience these effects.
Within Steinbeck's story, "Chrysanthemums," the main character, Elisa Allen, is confronted with many instances of conflict. Steinbeck uses chrysanthemums to symbolize this conflict and Elisa's self-worth. By examining these points of conflict and the symbolism presented by the chrysanthemums, the meaning of the story can be better determined.
The two short stories have different characters, plot and setting and yet they have a common ground in which human beings are deeply involved. In short, the setting of each work powerfully suggests a rather calm, dull and peaceful mood at a superficial level; however, the main characters are struggling from the uncontrollable passions and exploding desire at heart. First of all, in "The Chrysanthemums" the Salinas Valley is depicted as somewhat dull, like "a closed pot." In addition, its geographical setting represents an isolated atmosphere, and, furthermore, Elisa's actions of handling chrysanthemums can be translated into a static, inactive one. However, when it comes to her concealed passion, the whole picture in this piece can be interpreted in a different way. In fact, Elisa is portrayed as "over-eager, over-powerful" in a sharp contrast to the unanimated space in which she lives. On top of that, Elisa expresses her volition to explore uncharted worlds like the peddler who happens to visit her farm house. Also, it must be noted that, even though Elisa does not reveal her desire openly largely due to the authoritative patriarchal system, Elisa's interior motive is directed toward the violent, bloody prizefights. In other words, the imbalance between the relatively restricted setting and Elisa's vaulting desire to wander into the unknown territory is chiefly designed to strengthen the overall imagery of Elisa, whose drive to experience the violent outer world. At the same time, it can be inferred that appearance (setting) and reality (Elisa's human nature) are hard to understand.
John Wyndham made a very strong impression on any reader who has happened upon his book “The Chrysalids”. He brings to mind a harsh reality that is exaggerated within the novel, the fear of unknown powers. “Respect for God was frequently on his lips, and fear of the devil constantly in his heart, and it seems to have been hard to say which inspired him more.” The previous quote summarizes the basic thought process that the characters in the novel have. The people of Waknuk are terrified by the devil and inspired by God, which causes them to do unruly things. John Wyndham conveys social warnings for the human race by presenting our reality through a harsher light, showing normality versus difference, and by providing a prime example of human fear for a higher power.
Steinbeck, John. “The Chrysanthemums” Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V Roberts and Robert Zweig. 10th ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2012. 416-422. Print.
In the stories “A Rose for Emily” written by William Faulkner, and “The Yellow Wallpaper” written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, talk about how two women are experiencing the same emotional situations they have to endure. Both of these stories express the emotional and physical trials the characters have to endure on an everyday basis. In the story “The Yellow Wallpaper” it shows a woman who is oppressed and is suffering from depression and loneliness. In “A Rose for Emily” it is showing the struggle of maintaining a tradition and struggling with depression. Both of the stories resemble uncontrollable changes and the struggles of acceptance the characters face during those changes.
In the short story “The Chrysanthemums” John Steinbeck uses symbolism to reflect the characteristics of his main character Elisa Allen. Elisa, a married woman uncovers her deeply smothered femininity in an inconspicuous sense. Her life in the valley had become limited to housewife duties and the only sustenance that seemed to exist could merely be found in her chrysanthemum garden. Not until she becomes encountered with a remote tinker-man out and about seeking for work, does she begin to reach many of the internal emotions that had long inhibited her femininity. The tinker subtlety engages an interest in Elisa’s chrysanthemum garden that encourages Elisa to react radically. When Elisa realizes that there are other ways to live she attempts to lift the lid off of the Salinas Valley, but unfortunately the tinker’s insincere actions resort Elisa back to her old self and leaves Elisa without any optimism for her hollow breakthrough. Steinbeck’s somber details of the setting, strong description of the chrysanthemums and meaningful illustration of the red flower-pot reveal the distant, natural, ambitions Elisa Allen desired to attain.
has the mental age of a child and does not see the reason why George
one day want their own plot so they can 'live off the fatta the lan'
... Their attitude and tone is something that can be contrasted in the two stories.
Stephen Crane’s short story, “The Open Boat” speaks directly to Jack London’s own story, “To Build A Fire” in their applications of naturalism and views on humanity. Both writers are pessimistic in their views of humanity and are acutely aware of the natural world. The representations of their characters show humans who believe that they are strong and can ably survive, but these characters many times overestimate themselves which can lead to an understanding of their own mortality as they face down death.
Imagine for a moment it is your big sister's 17th birthday. She is out with her friends celebrating, and your parents are at the mall with your little brother doing some last minute birthday shopping, leaving you home alone. You then hear a knock on the front door. When you getthere, nobody is there, just an anonymous note taped to the door that says Happy Birthday, along with a hundred dollar bill. You've been dying to get that new video game, and your sister will never know. You are faced with a tough decision, but not a very uncommon one. In both Fences, by August Wilson, and A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansbury, tough decisions have to be made about getting money from someone else's misfortune. But money's that important right?
In the opening of the story Elisa is emasculated by the description of her clothing. She wears "a man’s black hat pulled low down over her eyes, clodhopper shoes, a figured print dress almost completely covered by a big corduroy apron…" (paragraph 5). When Elisa’s husband Henry comes over and compliments her garden and ability to grow things Elisa is smug with him and very proud of her skill with the flowers. Her "green thumb" makes her an equal in her own eyes. When Elisa’s husband asks her if she would like to go to dinner her feminine side comes out. She is excited to go eat at a restaurant and states that she would much rather go to the movies than go see the fights, she "wouldn’t like the fight’s" at all (paragraph 21). Elisa is taken aback with her own submissiveness and quickly becomes preoccupied with her flowers as soon as her husband leaves. When the drifter comes and asks Elisa for work to do she is stern with him and refuses him a job. She acts as a man would to another strange man and becomes irritated. When he persists in asking her she reply’s "I tell you I have nothing like that for you to do" (paragraph 46). The drifter mentions Elisa’s chrysanthemums and she immediately loosens up as "the irritation and resistance melt(ed) from her face" (paragraph 51). The drifter feigns great interest in Elisa’s chrysanthemums and asks her many questions about them. He tells her he knows a lady who said to him "if you ever come across some nice chrysanthemums I wish you’d try to get me a few seeds" (paragraph 56). Elisa is overjoyed by any interest in her flowers and gives the man chrysanthemum sprouts to take to his friend.
Comparing The Daffodils by William Wordsworth and Miracle on St. David's Day by Gillian Clarke