Fragrant Conflict: Steinbeck "Chysanthemums"

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.

John Steinbeck’s short story entitled, “The Chrysanthemums” allows a look into California’s Sabrina Valley’s and its residents who share similarities where they reside. The physical environment one is in may allude towards their characteristics and psychological state. The valley is described to have a “Pale yellow hillside” (313). Elisa Allen, a married woman who resides there posses those same colors. While having a subtle yellow tone that eludes brightness and positivity she also has grayer, more diminished shade that once was warm. A “grey flannel fog” along with a “cold and tender” air emerges into Elisa’s home. Occasionally acting blunt and sensitive towards her husband and feeling trapped in her marriage, Elisa is attempting to freshen

In John Steinbeck’s “the chrysanthemums”, Elisa hides her explosive feminine desires in gardening. Elisa comes across as a witty, independent and enterprising woman who can pretty much do what a man can do. She is however caught up in a defeating marriage to Henry Allen. This is so in the manner that Allen reduces her to a housewife despite her demonstrated desires to participate in running the ranch and other activities that society considers suited only for males. She is frustrated and thus resorts to releasing her pressure in gardening, an activity she is good at, but not talented in. Momentarily she succeeds in defeating her plight through her engagement with the Tinker. However even in this, her femininity is still her defeating point as the Tinker discards the chrysanthemum roots she gives him in; a show of despise.

Many people have different views on who is to blame for the Allens’ marital problems in John Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums.” However, author Gregory J. Palmerino, author of the article “Steinbeck 's The Chrysanthemums,” writes that the blame for the failing marriage is shared by both the wife and husband. Main characters Elisa and Henry seem to have an ideal marriage, complete with a domestic wife and a husband who compliments his wife and takes care of their finances. However, a deeper look reveals that both parties are desperately denying their personal desires in order to avoid conflict. For example, “Both Elisa and Henry equally suffer from conflict avoidance and appear to habitually withdraw from each other spiritually, intellectually,

The character Elisa in John Steinbeck’s short story “The Chrysanthemums” is a woman who is unsatisfied with her life as a farmer’s wife. She feels that she is capable of doing more with her life than planting flowers and being a typical housewife. When talking to the man in the wagon Elisa states, “It must be nice, she said. It must be very nice. I wish women could do such things” (586). The idea of being able to live on the road and travel wherever she wants causes her to ache for another life. Since she is a woman it is not socially acceptable for her to live life that way, in which she is saddened that men are given more possibilities. Before the man in the wagon leaves, Elisa says, “You might be surprised to have a rival some time. I can

The short story “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck told of a woman who strived to do more than what she was allowed. The protagonist, Elisa, was approached by a man who was a traveling craftsman looking to make some money. During his visit, Elisa opened herself to this man in a way that was very revealing to the reader. As I read this story Elisa became a very relatable character that felt out of place and trapped by the people and places around her. She demonstrates a very capable woman that is filled with passion who hasn’t had the chance to show her full potential.

SS 10 As usual, answer the following questions completely by referencing specific parts of the stories. “The Chrysanthemums” 1. How does Steinbeck’s description in the first two paragraphs give us insight into limitations in Elisa 's life? The first description gives the reader insight into Elisa’s life.

Steinbeck, John. “The Chrysanthemums”. Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, Drama. 2nd ed. Ed. Robert DiYanni. New York: McGraw, 2008. 459-466. Print.

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.

The Chrysanthemums central conflict has to do with Mrs. Allen’s self-esteem. She feels under appreciated as a women. The hard work she puts into her garden is not admired as much as the work her husband puts into the sale of the cattle. In this story Elissa Allen is approached by a traveler in his wagon offering to fix pots, pans, or sharpen her knives. He is very determined to try and get her to offer him work but she firmly continues to say no. The traveler begins to talk to her about her chrysanthemums which makes her happy and makes her feel good about herself, so she ends up giving him work. As Elissa and her husband ride into town for dinner she notices her flowers left on the side of the road, and then realizes that he was just trying