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The Chrysanthemums

            John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" is a short story about a woman's transformation. "The Chrysanthemums" opens with the protagonist, Elisa Allen working in her garden. Her husband, Henry approaches her to ask her out to dinner and a movie to celebrate the sell of thirty steers. They seem to be a well matched couple, however, their way of talking together is serous and formal. Henry goes back to work and a wanderer who travels up and down the coast repairing pots and sharpening scissors approaches Elisa. Her conversation with this odd man leaves her feeling frustrated and dissatisfied. By the end of the story Elisa is a completely different person than she was before. Elisa experiences an incredible transformation that can be seen through her appearance and speech.
             In the beginning of the story Elisa is viewed as a tomboy. She does not have any feminine qualities. Elisa is described as a thirty-five year old woman. She has a lean and strong face with eyes as clear as water. Her figure looks blocked and heavy in her gardening costume. She wore a man's black hat which she pulled down low over her eyes. She also wore clod-hopper shoes, a figured print dress almost completely covered by a big corduroy apron with four big pockets to hold her gardening tools. She wore heavy leather gloves to protect her hands while she worked. While Elisa is gardening she meets a stranger who compliments her flowers in the hopes that this will gain him some work. The stranger asks Elisa if he can have some of her chrysanthemums to take to another one of his customers. Immediately a change takes place in Elisa. She takes off her black hat and shakes out her dark beautiful hair. The big leather gloves that protect and hide her feminine hands are now forgotten. Elisa is starting to lose the things that make her unfeminine.
             After the peddler leaves Elisa gets ready to go to town with Henry. She puts on her newest undergarments and the dress that is a symbol of her prettiness.


Essays Related to The Chrysanthemums

1. Symbolism in Chrysanthemums

She handles the chrysanthemums with love and care, just as she would handle her own children. ... The chrysanthemums also symbolize Elisa's femininity and sexuality. ... Brought by visiting Buddhist monks, the chrysanthemum arrived in Japan in AD 400. ... Called "kikus" in Japanese, chrysanthemums were featured on the Imperial Crest of Japan, and were so beloved by Japanese emperors that they sat upon chrysanthemum thrones. ... Chrysanthemums will be welcomed throughout the British Isles and North America for any occasion. ...

  • Word Count: 920
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Elisa in The Chrysanthemums

In this story "The Chrysanthemums" there are many things you can get out of it. ... To top this off she is extremely passionate about the chrysanthemums. Readers can tell how enthralled she is with the chrysanthemums because how easily gullible she had become. ... As soon as the topic became the chrysanthemums "the irritation and resistance melted from Elisa's face" (paragraph 51). ... When she attempts to take a step out of her comfort zone of the chrysanthemums she ended up hurt. ...

  • Word Count: 1043
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

3. The Chrysanthemums

In the story "The Chrysanthemums- by John Steinbeck, the chrysanthemums symbolize Elisa's confidence and her feminist side. ... It is shown by her chrysanthemums, which have no aphids, "no sowbugs or snails or cutworms."" However, when she is not with the chrysanthemum or feels disconnected with the chrysanthemums, she will not be proud. ... This shows that she feels the confidence when she is with her chrysanthemums. ... However, the man seeing the chrysanthemum starts talking about it. ...

  • Word Count: 625
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums At first, Chrysanthemums may seem to be a story about farming. ... The only thing Elisa has close to kids are her chrysanthemums. ... The chrysanthemums to Elisa, are her way to talk and express her feelings, there her acting husband. ... Chrysanthemums is about a middle age women wanting to settle down and have a family. The only family she has right now is her Chrysanthemums. ...

  • Word Count: 371
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: High School

5. the Chrysanthemums

The Symbolism of the Tinker in Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" (reprinted in Edgar V. ... This is where she cultivates beautiful chrysanthemums. The chrysanthemums tell a great deal about Elisa's struggle to find her own identity. ... She is eager to talk about her chrysanthemums. ... By admiring the chrysanthemums, he figuratively admires her. ...

  • Word Count: 971
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

6. The Chrysanthemums

The Symbolism of the Tinker in Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" (reprinted in Edgar V. ... This is where she cultivates beautiful chrysanthemums. The chrysanthemums tell a great deal about Elisa's struggle to find her own identity. ... She is eager to talk about her chrysanthemums. ... By admiring the chrysanthemums, he figuratively admires her. ...

  • Word Count: 971
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Chrysanthemums

Both the woman and the chrysanthemums have a unique beauty. ... Chrysanthemums symbolize Elisa by having sensitivity under a strong outer layer. ... Just like Elisa, the chrysanthemums have a protective gate. ... Here the author chose to compare Elisa to a chrysanthemum. ... Allen and the chrysanthemums need to be nourished and pampered to bloom....

  • Word Count: 977
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

8. The Chrysanthemums

Both the woman and the chrysanthemums have a unique beauty. ... Chrysanthemums symbolize Elisa by having sensitivity under a strong outer layer. ... Just like Elisa, the chrysanthemums have a protective gate. ... Here the author chose to compare Elisa to a chrysanthemum. ... Allen and the chrysanthemums need to be nourished and pampered to bloom....

  • Word Count: 983
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

9. The Chrysanthemums

The Chrysanthemums Explication John Stienbeck's short story, "The Chrysanthemums" tells of the isolation that Elisa Allen, and on a larger scale women in general, struggle through. ... The inability to voice their own opinions causes Elisa to divulge in another means of expression, her chrysanthemums. ... The chrysanthemums themselves represent a large symbolic aspect of the entire story. ... When the stranger shows interest in her chrysanthemums, one can clearly see a change in her attitude. ... "Oh those are chrysanthemums, giant whites and yellows. ...

  • Word Count: 1124
  • Approx Pages: 4

10. Chrysanthemums

In the story of "Chrysanthemums" the tone of hopelessness is revealed through the use of language: specifically, diction, symbols, repetition, and figurative language. Diction is one of the main elements of language unveiled in the story of "Chrysanthemums" supporting the tone of hopelessness. ... This action is referred to once again when she is she is telling him how to care for the chrysanthemums (1062). ... In the story Elisa is describing how to care for the chrysanthemums when she starts describing how to pick the buds and states "Everything goes right down into your fingerti...

  • Word Count: 961
  • Approx Pages: 4

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