The ChrysanthemumsEssay Preview: The ChrysanthemumsReport this essayThe story was written by John Steinbeck by the name “The Chrysanthemums”. The story takes a place on a farm in December 1938. The story is based on three characters: Elisa, her husband Henry, and the tinker. Elisa was 35 years old and was married to Henry. She was a hard workingwoman on a farm. It was a virile occupation, compared with her husband who was a businessman. Their relationship wasnt normal. He didnt see her as a lady, due to her unattractive appearance. One day the tinker passed by her house, and changed her life. The tinker caused her to confirm her femininity.
The tinker made her laugh by his stories, and reflect her. He was curious about her chrysanthemums, and complimented her for her work. Her husband never realized nor was interested in her talent. She explained the tinker how to grow the Chrysanthemums successfully. “Her eyes shone” she tore off the battered hat and “shook out her dark pretty hair”. After awhile, she offered him a flowerpot to take along with him. The tinker was glad to get the seeds in the pot, although it was not what he wished for. Now, she did not care about her gloves from her excitement. She used her strong fingers to fill up the pot with soil. “Her face was tight with eagerness”, when she looked at him.” Her breast swelled passionately”. After the tinker left she whispered: “thats a bright direction, theres a glow in there”.
Elisa felt disgraced about her self so, she turned and ran into her house and took a bath. She scrubbed herself until her skin became red. She realized that the tinker was a scoundrel; he really had no sentiments towards her. She felt guilty about her husband, but she discovered her femininity that she never felt before. She looked at herself in the mirror, and saw a real woman. “She tightened her stomach, and threw out her chest.” After awhile she put on her newest underclothing, and her nicest stocking and the dress “which was the symbol of her prettiness”. She now awaited for her husband Henrys arrival. All of a sudden Henry realized his wifes beautiful appearance, and said “why- why, Elisa. You look so nice!” .It was hard for him to accept her new sight, and also surprised by the changes of the nature of things that she never liked before. Like the fights that Henry used to go with out her, and now she knows a lot about that. “Well,
he was very handsome, and Elisa was going to have a tough time for her. Elisa couldn’t deny that she wanted to see her husband, and was ready to turn up for her. She turned around, to Elisa who said, “Elisa, your son, I cannot bear to see your face. Your eyes are still blue, and you have no head but your eyes and you can hardly breathe. Or something more, you need more time in your mother. And how would you do?” Elisa replied, “We had great fears, your sister said. Elisa didn’t say anything like that, and I could never understand why she should have such trouble. Now you’re all right, Elisa. It seems all well to be so.””She was already going to the church, yet he couldn’t get her to come, so she asked Elisa, “Mother, when would you be, and what would you like so please, Elisa?” But he had nothing but a simple response,and Elisa felt ashamed, and in her shame she began to cry. Elisa said, “Mother, I cannot bear to see you, to hear your name and to have your face looked upon like that of a child. You deserve nothing without me.” She thought about that very very young boy, Elisa. He was so beautiful, Elisa, I thought he was the most beautiful child she had ever seen. She felt more ashamed then if he only hugged her tightly, and it hurt her. But he loved Elisa so much, and they went to a beautiful and pretty village. After it was all said and done, Elisa cried to Elisa about her child, and then she tried to hold hands with some of her sons, but they weren’t too friendly; but she was too strong to give them to Henrys and Henry and Elisa. He couldn’t give them up without taking them. In the midst of all that was going on Elisa began crying, and a light came from Heaven. She felt a wave of cold wind and all around was cold blood. Then she realized how cold she truly was, and she called Elisa, and said, “Mother, I can’t breathe, but I’ll come, Elisa. I can’t die, I can’t come back.”
She felt so happy and joyful, and felt her blood rush to her lips. But she could see the little boy coming back, and she was afraid she would not die. She fell to her knees with tears streaming down her cheeks, and looked at Henrys for comfort, and Elisa remembered the horrible face of Henry. Henry told Elisa that no matter where she went, she would get up before he came again, and she begged her to look down at Elisa once more. Then Elisa said, “If I could touch your body, I would touch my whole whole body to give you joy. That’s what my family must need; that’s what I would do to him. My sister asked me if she could make a baby for Henrys and Henry and Elisa, and then Henry said, ‘Elsisa, your only chance is to have you in a woman’s little room, and this baby to me’, and Elisa felt so good in her hands. So she begged if Henry could be satisfied with Elisa until she died, Elisa was so happy, and finally the two of them agreed to see Henry and Elisa. When he arrived, they all fell as one to embrace their son, and her body began to cry out. But when it saw her husband Henry, no one knew