John Steinbeck’s story, “The Chrysanthemums” opens with a description of the setting. The first setting is on a farm in the Salinas Valley, in California. The main character of the story is Elisa Allen. She is unhappy, and discontent with her life. She is married to Henry Allen. They have no children. She feels as though Henry sees her as more of a masculine woman. Elisa turns to her garden to mask her true feelings. While gardening one day, a stranger stops by their farm. This stranger cons, uses, and makes Elisa feel good, just to make her give him what he needs. This stranger in return uncovers Eliza’s inner feelings, and emotions. Elisa flirts with stranger and eventually gets her feelings hurt. Elisa’s unhappiness with her life can be shown through her love for her chrysanthemums, her actions towards the tinkerer, and her mood at the end of the story.
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One thing being, she does not have children. Elisa cares for her chrysanthemums as though they are her children. She protects the flowers from all harm. Elisa checks the flowers to make sure that no insects such as aphids, snails, and cutworms are destroying them. Text states that, “Her terrier fingers [destroy] such pests before they [can] get started” (417). Although Elisa cares for the flowers as though they are her children. She also uses them to help with her insecurities. Elisa tries to plant the biggest and best chrysanthemums around (418). She gets comfort when people admire, and compliment her flowers. This is because of her feeling as though Henry and other men see her as a masculine woman. Therefore, when people admire her flowers, she feels as if they are admiring her. Elisa’s yearning for admiration from others, plays a role when the stranger comes to the
One thing being, she does not have children. Elisa cares for her chrysanthemums as though they are her children. She protects the flowers from all harm. Elisa checks the flowers to make sure that no insects such as aphids, snails, and cutworms are destroying them. Text states that, “Her terrier fingers [destroy] such pests before they [can] get started” (417). Although Elisa cares for the flowers as though they are her children. She also uses them to help with her insecurities. Elisa tries to plant the biggest and best chrysanthemums around (418). She gets comfort when people admire, and compliment her flowers. This is because of her feeling as though Henry and other men see her as a masculine woman. Therefore, when people admire her flowers, she feels as if they are admiring her. Elisa’s yearning for admiration from others, plays a role when the stranger comes to the