Character Analysis the Chrysanthemums - 1220 Words

Amanda Garcia Mrs. Christopher Engl. 1302 April 15, 2013 Paper 1 Character Analysis â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† by John Steinbeck John Steinbeck was born in 1902 and lived during what is said to be the most troubled time in American history. Steinbeck was alive during the Dust Bowl paired with the Great Depression, which is believed to be the reason for his almost melancholiac tone in some of his works but he seemed a very diverse writer. Along with â€Å"The Chrysanthemums†, Steinbeck is the author of the well-known and famous novel turned movie The Grapes of Wrath, where he used a â€Å"documentary style†, says Cliff Lewis in his online article he named after Steinbeck. Moreover in his article, Lewis expresses some of the lingering secrets and†¦show more content†¦This con-artist is a master manipulator who took what he could and never intended on taking a second glance at this poor, unsuspecting, desperate housewife. The passion that the peddler had for making money is equal to that of Elisa’s intensity for her flowers, and for a point, this man, the mysteriously dangerous, tornado of a man, the begging pot repairman. Finally, the main attraction, Mrs. Elisa Allen, the thirty-five year old woman who seemed as if she was a lot stronger than she truly was. Really she was denying the fact that she was longing for attention, a passionate woman, who might have not been meant for the life she feels so trapped in. She channeled her aggression and love to her beautiful, carefully taken care of garden of chrysanthemums and sadly, for a moment the man who took advantage of her vulnerability. Elisa, being childless, grew and nurtured the flowers as a part of her, becoming one with the earth beneath her fingertips and creating life. An example of her expressing her careful meticulous planting system is a glimpse of the passion she had for her â€Å"work†. The point where the salesperson begins working his magic on her she nearly swoons, when speaking of her beloved precious chrysanthemums, â€Å"Oh beautiful. † her eyes shone† (5). Not only does she show passion for her plants, the reader begins to feel the energy be concentrated completely to the repairman. This woman almost gets fullyShow MoreRelatedEssay on Character Analysis of Elisa Allen in The Chrysanthemums747 Words   |  3 PagesCharacter Analysis of Elisa Allen in The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck The Chrysanthemums, written by John Steinbeck, captures one day in the life of a woman who yearns for a more fulfilling life. Elisa is first portrayed as a woman whose tasks are exceeded by her abilities. As the day continues, a stranger briefly enters her life and, through manipulative words, fills her heart with hopes of change and excitement. We learn that these newly-found hopes are crushed when Elisa eventuallyRead More Character Analysis of Elisa Allen in The Chrysanthemums by Steinbeck1262 Words   |  6 PagesSteinbecks short story, The Chrysanthemums, feel Elisas flowers represent her repressed sexuality, and her anger and resentment towards men. Some even push the symbolism of the flowers, and Elisas masculine actions, to suggest she is unable to establish a true relationship between herself and another. Her masculine traits and her chrysanthemums are enough to fulfill her entirely. This essay will discuss an opposing viewpoint. Instead, it will argue that Elisas c hrysanthemums, and her masculine qualitiesRead MoreEssay on Analysis of The Chrysanthemums1139 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis of The Chrysanthemums The short story The Chrysanthemums gives insight into the life of its author. John Steinbeck was born on February 27, 1902, in Salinas, California. 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Steinbeck uses the narrativeRead More The Chrysanthemums Essay1649 Words   |  7 PagesJohn Steinbeck’s, The Chrysanthemums, was published in 1938 in a book of short stories, entitled The Long Valley. The Chrysanthemums has been a rather powerful draw for scholars because of its wide gap for interpretations and analysis of its main protagonist character, Elisa Allen and also the unique descriptions used to portray the deeper meaning behind the setting of the story. Themes of sexuality, oppression of women, as well as other numerous types of conflict portrayed in th is rather somberRead MoreThe Chrysanthemums By John Steinbeck982 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Chrysanthemums† is a short story written by John Steinbeck. The story was originally published in 1937 before later being released as a part of his The Long Valley collection. This is an important story as it expresses women in a way that is more realistic, showing their true boredom, ambition, and capabilities. Some scholars interpreted this story differently, but C. Kenneth Pellow interprets it as â€Å"radically feministic.† The Great Depression was finally ending and women’s rights were risingRead MoreEssay on Symbolism in The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck1179 Words   |  5 PagesSymbolism in The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck A symbol is an act, person, thing, or spectacle that stands for something else, by association a usually broader idea in addition to its own literal meaning (Cassill Bausch, 1728). John Steinbecks The Chrysanthemums may seem as a story describing a simple day with the Allen couple. It begins with Elisa Allen working in her garden and her husband, Henry Allen, negotiating with two suited business men that want to purchase steers. TheyRead MoreProposal969 Words   |  4 PagesCharacter Analysis: Elisa Allen John Steinbeck has a very engaging mind. He not only makes people think when they read his work; he makes them think through a number of scenarios with his tales. I believe that looking at this story, you sense this woman, Elisa Allen, is a woman who is very unhappy with her life. The only satisfaction Elisa gets out of life is being in her garden with her family of chrysanthemums. Elisa is very unsettled with her life as a whole. She does not like being stuckRead MoreAnalysis Of The Story The Story Of An Hour Essay1554 Words   |  7 PagesENC1102 T/R 5:40PM TO 9:00PM WOLFSON CAMP ANALYSIS OF FEMALE CHARACTERS IN â€Å"THE STORY OF AN HOUR† â€Å"HILLS LIKE WHITE ELEPHANTS† AND â€Å"THE CHRYSANTHEMUMS† JUAN FELIX CASTILLO BATISTA PROFESOR JOSEPH FALLAD This essay is an attempt to describe the females’ characters between three of the most powerful short stories I ever read. My goal is to describe and compare three different women, in theirRead MoreJohn Steinbeck2062 Words   |  9 Pageswrites short stories like â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† and â€Å"Flight†. In Steinbeck’s â€Å"The Chrysthemums† Elisa Allen is married to a negligent ranch owner. While her husband works on the ranch, Elisa tends to her chrysanthemum garden daily. One day while tending to her garden, a charming tinker man pulls up to her in his wagon and tries to make a business transaction with her. Seeing that she is not interested, the tinker strikes up a conversation with Elisa about her chrysanthemums. In the end, the tinker takes