John Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums”
By
Patricai.Mozee1
Unit 5IP Literature

“The Chrysanthemums”

I have chosen to explain why I think that Elisa’s situation is not over and that a “storm” could be brewing later. Elisa Allen at the age of thirty five working in her flowers garden was married to her husband Henry.

“The Chrysanthemums”

Elisa had strength and probable frustrate with her life. It was hard to describe what she really look like in her garden costume with a black hat (The Chrysanthemums, pp. 227). She is cutting the Chrysanthemum stalks with a pair of short scissors (The Chrysanthemums, 2012, pp. 228). The story states that her work with the scissors was over powerful (The Chrysanthemums, 2012, pp. 228). With all that energy, Elisa would be able to handle any job given to her. Elisa is a very confidence and strong minded person. This story is about a strong minded women and her garden. In this garden Elisa grow a flower that was called “The Chrysanthemum”. Her husband admire her work raising “The Chrysanthemums and mentioned how he wish she could work in the orchard and raise some apples ten inches big (The Chrysanthemum, 2012, pp. 228). This story is also about Elisa feelings and actions. Elisa was also a dynamic character in this story. She was strong and lonely but yet married to henry. Elisa was a friendly person and became friends with this man. I guess she was interested and decided to dresses up looking nice ready to go out. Elisa character changes threw out the story which finds her in the need for love and attention. Elisa character is a woman who is strong and wants affection and turn to the Chrysanthemums as a way to prove to herself her strength. A storm will be brewing later due to Elisa holding in a lot of stress. With Elisa not being happy with herself and holding a lot could cause problems with people surrounding her. When the moment present itself, Elisa will reveal how she really feels in the inside. Elisa confidence tells you that she is able to take on other jobs and challenges. Her will, power, strength, and confidence will allow her to move forward. While trying to get there Elisa will show negative actions.
A storm will be brewing later because of Elisa lack of confidence she sometimes have which she is considered being weak at times. I also considered Elisa a walking time bomb waiting to explored while holding some much in. The positive part about Elisa that she knows her work. The encouragement part about her is she is willing to take on any manly job. Elisa is capable of during whatever her heart and mine desire. Elisa down fall will be when she loose her temper whenever she feels that she wasn’t successful in her accomplishments.
Elisa confidence could play a positive role in her life or a negative one. The positive will be continued to prove that she is capable and the negative will be setting her up for failure if things doesn't go as planned. This is when the weak side of Elisa comes out. I really don’t think her husband or friends are will and ready to deal with her being that way.
Being unhappy with her life can cause plenty of problems in and outside of her relationship. This is something Elisa’s is not even aware of. She doesn’t see herself doing anything wrong. Being this way will always end up in a disappointment. I only hope that Elisa come around before she start to have other problems.
When Elisa and hennery are riding in the car he makes a statement about how strong and
Happy she looks. She seems to get really offended and then states “I’m strong. I never knew
How strong.” (John Steinbeck, The Chrysanthemums, p.198) With these few words you
Can tell that something is brewing inside her and she is feeling her confidence and strength. She
Doesn’t like it when people insinuate that she is weak or incapable of doing things.
I would have taken that as a compliment. When most women have problems and issues working them from the inside, they never seem to pick up on the positive information that is being brought forth to them. They are always on the offensive mode opposing to opening up for all the good things people have to say about them. This is one of the reasons why I think that Elisa’s situation is not over and that a storm could be brewing later.

Steinbeck, J. (1938). The Chrysanthemums. In Kennedy, X.J., Gioia, D. (2010). Literature (6th ed. Pg. 192-199), Boston, MA: Longman