The story takes place in
the Salinas Valley in December at Henry Allen’s ranch in the foothills
. Immediately, we’re placed in a rural setting, where women are isolated and men are manly. One thing we might note here is the contrast between Elisa’s closed-off Salinas Valley and the world of the tinker.
What is the theme of the story Chrysanthemum?
In the book Chrysanthemum, the theme is
learn to love yourself how you are
. This is shown throughout the story. In the beginning, Chrysanthemum loves her name and thinks it’s perfect. She then goes to school and kids there make fun of it and say it’s too long and too different because it is a kind of flower.
Why is the setting important in The Chrysanthemums?
Her intense, almost uncontrollable desire to reach out and touch his foot comes as a result of being trapped in her life with no form of understanding, empathy or outlet for who she is. Setting in this story is thus vitally important in how
it builds up our understanding of character
.
When was The Chrysanthemums set in?
The short story “The Chrysanthemums,” was set in the era of
1920s-1930s
.
Where is the short story The Chrysanthemums set?
John Steinbeck’s short story “The Chrysanthemums” is set in
the Salinas Valley in California
.
What is the conflict in the chrysanthemums?
The prominent conflict in this story is
man vs self
. Elisa deals with an internal conflict where she is not entirely satisfied with her life. She is not thoroughly happy with the way she feels or is being treated in her marriage.
What do the chrysanthemums mean to Elisa?
Steinbeck uses chrysanthemums as symbols of
the inner-self of Elisa
and of every woman. First, the chrysanthemums symbolize Elisa’s children. … Elisa’s pride in her ability to grow such beautiful flowers reinforces the fact that the flowers are a replacement for her children.
Why is Elisa attracted to the Tinker?
She is attracted to the tinker because,
as Stanley Renner points out, he represents a world of adventure and freedom that only men enjoy
(306). … Elisa realizes her hopes for equality are nothing but a dream because she has been betrayed by her basic nature and by men.
What do chrysanthemums mean?
In Europe the chrysanthemum signifies an expression of sympathy. Chrysanthemum’s are typically looked at as a flower that signifies respect and honor in America. … A white chrysanthemum is a symbol of loyalty and devoted love. In general, chrysanthemums are believed to
represent happiness, love, longevity and joy
.
What is the climax of Chrysanthemum?
Climax. The story’s climax occurs when
Elisa sees the dark speck on the road and realizes that the tinker has discarded her chrysanthemums
; and thus realizes that their interaction was not the empowering outlet that she thought it was.
Why does Elisa cry in The Chrysanthemums?
Elisa “cries like an old woman”
because she is absolutely crushed because she realizes that she has been duped by the tinker and that he was not interested in her chrysanthemums
at all. He had only pretended to be interested in Elisa talking about them in order to get some business from her (some pots to mend).
How does The Chrysanthemums begin?
As the story begins,
she is cutting down the previous year’s chrysanthemum stalks
. Steinbeck portrays Elisa as an accomplished gardener. As Elisa works, she watches Henry interact with two men in business suits. … The story begins in the Salinas Valley, which is pretty common in several of Steinbeck’s stories.
What point of view is The Chrysanthemums?
Steinbeck displays an extraordinary ability to delve into the complexities of a woman’s consciousness. “The Chrysanthemums” is told in
the third person
, but the narration is presented almost entirely from Elisa’s point of view.
Why is Elisa considered a complex character?
Elisa is perhaps considered a complex character because
she seems sometimes passionate and lively and at other times melancholy and restless
. She is passionate and lively when she is working with her hands, planting and caring for the chrysanthemums, but she seems melancholy and restless because she does not have…
How can the reader tell that Elisa has decided to trust the stranger?
In the story “Chrysanthememus” by John Steinbeck, we can see that Elisa trusts the stranger
because she invites him into her garden
. She is charmed by him when he tells her he simply “follows good weather” and then is even more enchanted when he starts asking about her beloved Chrysanthemums.
Who is the protagonist in the chrysanthemums?
Elisa Allen
The protagonist. A robust thirty-five-year-old woman, Elisa lives with her husband, Henry, on a ranch in the Salinas Valley.
