Elisa found freedom in her daily tasks.Elisa is very proud of herself in growing the plants, and it 38 was a success for Elisa to have ten-inches chrysanthemums. At first glance John Steinbecks \”The Chrysanthemums\” seems to be a story about a woman whose niche is in the garden. Are there any ways in which they are alike? 6. Seeing Elisa’s resolve softening, the tinker continues to ask her questions about the flowers. In what ways is the tinker a contrast to Elisa? Elisa … In the story, “The Chrysanthemums,” John Steinbeck uses many words to describe Elisa’s clothes in two occasions. The chrysanthemums are a representation of Elisa in life, and the setting is the enclosure of herself and the flowers; by being able to plant these flowers Elisa is able to escape from her reality. Most of all, I believe in the character of Elisa Adams. "The Chrysanthemums," one of John Steinbeck"s masterpieces, describes a lonely farmer"s wife, Elisa Allen. For Thursday you should read John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" and answer one of the following questions. Steinbeck introduces Elisa in the beginning, describing her with masculine adjectives and stating that she was wearing men’s clothing to garden. John Steinbecks’ “The Chrysanthemums” is a story that utilizes symbolism on many levels. She is still lively and strong. Why does Steinbeck spend so much time describing Elisa's clothes? The Chrysanthemums Summary and Analysis of 'The Chrysanthemums': The End. Once the tinker's wagon disappears, Elisa returns to her house, where she removes all of her clothes and bathes thoroughly. He claims to have an established customer who is looking for good chrysanthemum seeds and asks Elisa if she is willing to part with some. 6. From these, the reader gathers that Elisa is strong, lean, and eager; the way she talks confidently about her chrysanthemums not only shows her confidence, but her way of filling the void […] The first occasion is at the beginning of the story when she works in the garden. Their flowerbed, like Elisa’s house, is tidy and scrupulously ordered. 5. Is he sincere, or is he just a con man? John Steinbeck brings symbolism into play to represent Elisa Allen"s frustrati ‘When the night is dark—why, the stars are sharp-pointed, and there’s quiet. Elisa Allen"s physical appearance is very mannish yet still allows a hint of a feminine side to peek through. When she's finished, she stands in front of her bedroom mirror and studies her body. Finally, she slowly gets dressed, wearing her newest and nicest clothes, carefully styling her hair, and doing her make up (Note: Study their conversation carefully for clues.) The primary theme in “The Chrysanthemums,” one that appears throughout Steinbeck’s canon, is Elisa’s creative frustration.Some critics have viewed Elisa as a feminist figure, while others-arguing that Elisa both emasculates her husband and engages in an infidelity with the tinker-have argued that the story is an attack against feminism. 3. How does her clothing change as the story progresses? The chrysanthemum seeds and the gardening tools: “trowel,” “scratchers,” and “knife,” which indicate fertility and possibly sexuality, remain buried in the depths of Elisa… Her husband, Henry, is a successful farmer who gets to play a more profound role in society, trading with other men and showing of his property. How does her clothing change as the story progresses? She wears “a man’s black hat pulled low down over her eyes” and a dress “almost completely covered by a big corduroy apron”. John Steinbeck brings symbolism into play to represent Elisa … “The Chrysanthemums”, one of John Steinbeck’s masterpieces, describes a lonely farmer’s wife, Elisa Allen. - the answers to ihomeworkhelpers.com In the final segment of Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums,” Elisa shows a new aura of confidence is as she prepares for an outing with her husband. Read the beginning carefully. The Chrysanthemums Themes. He proposes to take her out to the movies. Elisa’s clothing choices blurs the gender line even further. John Steinbeck’s The Chrysanthemums, Elisa changes her appearance and behavior after the tinker leaves. (Note: Study their conversation carefully for clues.) What might he represent for her? We notice that it is just after John Steinbeck’s setting description which hints Elisa’s dry, waiting, expecting inner world. Steinbeck spends too much time talking about Elisa's clothes as he wants to highlight the positive and negative aspects of her outfits. Consequently, Steinbeck uses clothing to note the transmogrification of Elisa. Henry comes over to Elisa, and says how she should work on the orchard one day. In John Steinbeck's short story, "The Chrysanthemums," he uses the flower to symbolize his main character's thoughts and ideas. In John Steinbeck’s story “The Chrysanthemums” the main character Elisa is in the garden wearing men’s clothing; her appearance made her seem strong. Elisa explicitly identifies herself with the flowers, even saying that she becomes one with the plants when she tends to them. She put on her newest under-clothing and her nicest stocking and … Answer: 2 on a question The Chrysanthemums Why does Steinbeck spend so much time describing Elisa’s clothes? Elisa happily agrees, informing him that chrysanthemums are best grown with sprouts, not seeds. The primary symbols used in the story The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck are the Salinas valley and the chrysanthemums.Chrysanthemums represent Elisa and the unsatisfied life she is living. Elisa Allen is working in her flower garden, specifically the Chrysanthemums, and sees Henry, her husband speaking with some business men. She “tightened her stomach and threw out her chest. This makes her relationship with her husband to be tight. John Steinbeck brings symbolism into play to represent Elisa … The Elisa and her garden seem to be considered one. Why does Steinbeck spend so much time describing Elisa's clothes? Why does Steinbeck spend so much time describing Elisa’s clothes? Upon deeper inspection the story has strong notes of feminism in the central character Elisa Allen. Elisa Allen is a lonely woman who enjoys growing and nourishing her chrysanthemums. What might he represent for her? Elisa Allen's physical appearance is very mannish yet still allows a hint of a feminine side to peek through. According to Stanley Renner, "The Chrysanthemums" shows "a strong, capable woman kept from personal, social, and sexual fulfillment by the prevailing conception of a woman's role in a world dominated by men" (306). The Chrysanthemums Symbolism. The chrysanthemums symbolize both Elisa and the limited scope of her life. Once the tinker's wagon disappears, Elisa returns to her house, where she removes all of her clothes and bathes thoroughly. Upon deeper inspection the story has strong notes of feminism in the central character Elisa Allen. Are there any ways in which they are alike? The Chrysanthemums being a symbol of children that she never had. The tinker’s feigned interest in the chrysanthemums clearly arouses Elisa’s sexual instincts: “Her breast swelled passionately,” and she does her unconscious best to arouse his: “Elisa’s voice grew husky. At work is a woman who seems trapped beneath her heavy work clothes. She dresses in a fancy lady’s clothes, “her newest underclothing, her nicest stocking and dress” and puts on make up and spends time to work on her hair. The characters of the chrysanthemums are healthy, thriving and lovely which is an accurate representation of Elisa. Traditional gender roles exist between both stories. Elisa’s Clothing Style Elisa’s clothing changes symbolizes masculine persona which becomes more feminine after the visit from the tinker. 3. Elisa… 5. 3. Elisa’s looks is manlike in the gardening clothing, showing strength and ability to cope with the hardships, but underneath there is a dress, a symbol of womanhood and beauty and weakness. The Chrysanthemums Summary " The Chrysanthemums" is a short story by John Steinbeck in which a handsome drifter comes to Elisa's house and asks about her flowers. (Steinbeck, 1) Masculine clothes, a symbol of the masculine view Elisa has of herself, block and cover Elisa… Elisa Allen’s physical appearance is very mannish yet still allows a hint of a feminine side to peek through. "Her face was lean and strong and her eyes were as clear as water"(Steinbeck 226). 4. How does her clothing change as the story progresses? 2. Together with the “man’s black hat,” the clothing emasculates her, Elisa’s sexuality almost completely “blocked” or restrained (390). She is wearing very masculine clothing, giving her a masculine appearance. The business men leave. Why, you rise up and up! Like Elisa, the chrysanthemums are lovely, strong, and thriving. An essay or paper on The Chrysanthemums: Elisa Allen's Frustrations and Hidden Passions. Elisa Allen's hands move eagerly, almost too eagerly and too powerfully for the small chrysanthemum stems. When the story begins, Elisa is wearing a genderless gardening outfit, complete with heavy shoes, thick gloves, a man’s … At first glance John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" seems to be a story about a woman whose niche is in the garden. How does her clothing change as the story progresses? Feminism in John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums." In what way does the setting of the story foreshadow what follows? 1. In what ways is the tinker a contrast to Elisa? In Chrysanthemums, the main character, Elisa, is depicted as a woman with great potential, but has to live in the shadows of her husband. There are many examples of such symbolism in this work. From an androgynous gardener, who wears heavy and blocky clothing, to a beautiful young woman wearing a dress that was “the symbol of her prettiness.” Elisa’s masculine gardening clothes is … Finally, she slowly gets dressed, wearing her newest and nicest clothes, carefully styling her hair, and doing her make up. 4. "The Chrysanthemums", one of John Steinbeck's masterpieces, describes a lonely farmer's wife, Elisa Allen. Elisa’s Clothing Style Elisa’s clothing changes symbolizes masculine persona which becomes more feminine after the visit from the tinker. Upon my reading of “The Chrysanthemums,” I felt for Elisa because I know what it’s like to be treated as inferior to those around you even when you know your true potential. Is he sincere, or is he just a con man? When the story begins, Elisa is wearing a genderless gardening outfit, complete with heavy shoes, thick gloves, a man’s hat, and an apron filled with sharp, phallic implements. In John Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums,” Elisa is described as having a handsome face. The clothing of Elisa changes as the story progresses because she tries to give herself younger and prettier look; she doesn't care about her age and body s . More v Epiphany of Elisa in John Steinbeck’s The ChrysanthemumsJohn Steinbeck described Elisa Allen in “The Chrysanthemums” only with her language and actions. . Because of all of her hard labor and love the Chrysanthemums flourish. In "The Chrysanthemums," this struggle for equality is portrayed through Steinbeck's character Elisa Allen. As the story continues, her character appears to be the same, … .