... from these stereotypes and become more independent with their lives. Many famous writers have addressed this issue in their novels or short stories. John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" describes Elisa Allen's frustration with her marriage. Elisa feels a sense of isolation from the world and desires to express herself as a woman, and to ... her own femininity. Despite hiding behind these clothes she was still doing what seemed to be the "female" job of tending a flower garden. Her chrysanthemums meant everything to her. They were almost like her children and she took care of them as i...

• Word Count: 1196
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... story is about a lonely young woman who is very passionate about growing and maintaining her chrysanthemums. This woman, Elisa, and her husband Henry live on a foothill ranch secluded from the outside world. They make their living by raising and selling crop and cattle. Henry has just ... a love for her flowers and shows great interest in them to gain her trust. He invents a story about a woman that lives down the road that would love to have some chrysanthemums and asks Elisa if he could take her some seeds. Elisa becomes very excited about the interest he has shown and eagerly places...

• Word Count: 472
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

Chrysanthemums" When Elisa sees the chrysanthemum sprouts on the road, she feels betrayed, a victim of her own romantic reverie. She has invited a stranger into her world and has seen into his ... to a high moral standard as a good wife and feels guilty for her escapist thoughts. She is further humiliated when she finds that her feelings were all based on a pretense. The chrysanthemums in the road show that the relationship is based on fraud. Her enhanced belief in herself is shattered and she becomes crushed and weak. ...

• Word Count: 259
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

Elizabeth's Emotion Epiphany In his story, "Odour of Chrysanthemums," D.H. Lawrence shows the emotion growth of his main character Elizabeth Bates. This emotion epiphany is best illustrated through his use of her character development, characterization. In the development of Elizabeth's ... ...

• Word Count: 891
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... him and rejects his offers to have her things fixed. After several attempts and offers the man was going to turn away and leave but he catches a glimpse of the chrysanthemums and suddenly thereafter, their conversation makes a quick turn and heads toward another direction. Steinbeck introduces this turn in direction of their conversation with the following lines: "What's them plants, ma ... "am?" The irritation and resistance melted from Elisa's face. "Oh, those are chrysanthemums, giant whites and yellows. I raise them every year, bigger than anybody around here" (249). Notice how Stein...

• Word Count: 1566
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School