The Unfulfilled Elisa in John Steinbecks The Chrysanthemums

The Unfulfilled Elisa in John Steinbecks The Chrysanthemums â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† is a short story in The Long Valley, a collection of short stories by John Steinbeck. This story dramatizes the efforts made by a housewife, Elisa Allen, to compensate for the disappointments which she has encountered in her life. Steinbeck makes it clear that Elisa yearns for something more in her life then the everyday routines of farm life. While Elisa is portrayed as strong, in the end, her strength serves to be insufficient in having the courage to effect any real change in her life since her fragile self-esteem proves to be too susceptible to outside forces. From the beginning of the short story, Steinbeck emphasizes that Elisa is a strong,†¦show more content†¦The tinker has gotten off the main road and is looking for work. He repairs pots and pans and sharpens kitchen utensils. At first Elisa is aloof and says she has no work for him, but warms to the man when he admires her garden. He mentions that a customer of his wanted to grow chrysanthemums and asked him to bring her seeds if he ever got the chance. Elisa is thrilled to have someone who has shown an interest in her expertise. She informs the tinker that chrysanthemums are best grown from seedlings, after which she arranges some seedlings in a pot of sand for him to take to his customer. This changes Elisa whole orientation toward the tinker. She finds him some of her pots which need repair and engages him in conversation as she digs up the seedlings. At this point, Steinbeck’s narrative takes on sexual overtones as Elisa describes her feelings when she prunes the chrysanthemum buds with sure, quick fingers. â€Å"They never make a mistake. They’re with the plant. Do you see? Your fingers and the plant. You can feel that, right up your arm† (283-284). It is clear in this passage that Elisa is identifying heavily with the tinker and that she images that they share the same feelings toward their individual realms of expertise. The tinker starts to comment on what she has just described, but Elisa cuts him off. She is so certain of what he was going to say, sheShow MoreRelatedSymbolism in The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck Essay1547 Words   |  7 PagesSymbolism in The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck The Chrysanthemums, one of John Steinbecks masterpieces, describes a lonely farmers wife, Elisa Allen. Elisa Allens physical appearance is very mannish yet still allows a hint of a feminine side to peek through. John Steinbeck brings symbolism into play to represent Elisa Allens frustrations and hidden passions. Isolation is another representation through symbolism found in The Chrysanthemums. Elisas failing detached marriage is representedRead MoreInternal Conflict in Barn Burning by William Faulkner and the Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck1985 Words   |  8 PagesThe works Barn Burning by William Faulkner and The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck at first glance may seem to have no connection, but in spite of different plot they focus on similar ideas. The story Barn Burning by William Faulkner discusses the inner conflict within Sartoris Snopes, a young boy who faced a dilemma. He tries to make a decision of choosing between to lieing in the court under his fathers pressiure who does not want to get into the jail and acting against his father by tellingRead MoreA History of Submissive Women in Literature2215 Words   |  9 Pagesacclimate itself to a world dominated by men. Although major improvements have been made in the strife for equality, this continues to be a man’s world. In the short stories â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† and â€Å"A Rose for Emily,† as well as in the drama â€Å"A Doll’s House,† the protagonists are all frustrated women who are unfulfilled with their subservient lives. Partly imposed upon them by their setting’s historical and societal norms, they choose to either do something about it or continue to internalize their