The Chrysanthemums

Ana
September 27, 2011

“The Chrysanthemums” Critical Analysis

“The Chrysanthemums”, written by John Steinbeck is a story about a thirty-five year-old woman named Elisa Allen and her encounter with an old bearded man in a wagon and his effect in her perspective in life. The point of view in which the story was narrated is relevant to its analysis and understanding. Also a character analysis can be done to interpret how they each think and act the way they do. Steinbeck uses a great amount of symbols that can be analyzed to conclude the characteristics of the characters of the story as well as the setting and time in which it takes place. The protagonist, Elisa Ellen, also faces different changes or transformations during the story that
Henry Allen, for example, is the man of the house, the provider for the family. Due to the fact that the story takes places in a patriarchal time, Henry takes care of the ranch and of his wife, providing them with a comfortable life. He is a good husband and a nice man that treats her with respect. He however does not have much faith in her abilities other than house duties and gardening. It is clear in the story that there is a lack of passion in their marriage and it seems as if they are married simply because they have gotten accustomed to each other. Elisa is an attractive woman that although has an asexual life, as seen by their lack of children, is still a sexual person. She is intelligent and ambitious but is trapped by the society she lives in. She feels unappreciated and is frustrated with her inability of doing the same things men do. She is by far smarter and more talented than both men in the story, but her is life is not nearly as interesting or importance as theirs. Not much is described about the man in the wagon except for the fact that he is older and has a beard. His traits show a working man “The calloused hands he rested on the wire fence were cracked, and every crack was a black line.” (Steinbeck 728). He makes his living mending pots and sharpening knives and scissors. Although he is uneducated, he is smart and a good salesman. At first he pleads Elisa for work,
The Chrysanthemums themselves are a symbol of both Elisa and her life. Like the flower, Elisa is beautiful and powerful and as described in the story, her face is “lean and strong and her eyes were as clear as water” (Steinbeck 726). Elisa feels comfortable when around the flowers and feels a connection with them. Her sudden change from when the man in the wagon asks about the Chrysanthemums is an evidence of her appreciation and identification to the flowers, “The irritation and resistance melted from Elisa’s face.” (Steinbeck 729). At that moment she felt appreciated and important. Her bond to the flowers is so strong that when he compliments them, she feels as if he had complimented her as well. Also, at the same time as she is offering the Chrysanthemums to him, she is also offering herself, exemplifying her and the flowers unity once again as well as the symbolic meaning of her offering of the flowers. The amount of detail she gives when talking about the stars is “nearly pornographic” (SparkNotes). At the end of the story, as she sees the flowers on the floor, realizing his rejection to the flowers, she instantaneously feels rejected as well and starts “crying weakly-like an old woman” (Steinbeck