Comparing Chrysanthemums And John Updike's Separating

It is common to lie in bed at night and review the past. Even more common to dwell on the things that affected us emotionally: rejection, abandonment, words that were swallowed and never said. Misery loves company, but we eagerly RSVP to the pity party. As readers, we enjoy reading these stories and relating to these characters. The feeling of hopelessness or embarrassment resonates with all, including the characters that were introduced in the past few weeks. In these stories, one thing is clear: misery haunts us. In the short story “Chrysanthemums,” Elisa displays herself as a doting housewife; however, in her mind, she burdens an emotional lack of fulfillment. Dissatisfied and filled with wanderlust, Elisa is intrigued when the tinker arrives in her garden. This stranger’s lifestyle gives her a twinge of jealousy, causing her to “wish women could do such things” (Steinbeck 1242). Regardless of what limitations Elisa places on herself, she indeed could live the …show more content…
The Maples are getting a divorce, and having to explain the demise of their marriage to their kids is breaking their hearts. The plot revolves around the tension of breaking the news and the heartache of the parents, but there is not an explanation for the divorce until the end of the story. Finally, their son Dickie moans one word: “Why?” And in the pivotal line of this story it is revealed that Richard “had forgotten why” (1669). Richard and Joan choose to put their family through this life altering divorce without having a solid reason why. Richard claims to be miserable, but he does not know the reasoning behind it. Rather than working on their relationship as a unit, the couple decides to separate, placing a fissure between them and their kids as well as with each other. They choose to leave one unhappy lifestyle for another instead of looking for happiness in one they already