Chrysanthemums Brainstorm

Setting: gray-flannel fog of winter closed the valley in (isolated)
-air is cold and tender
-fields seem bathed in pale cold sunshine
-no sunshine at all in December
-time of all quiet and waiting


Characters:
-Elisa: feels trapped in her life/surroundings, stays at the ranch, unhappy, settles for less
-Tinker: good salesman, charismatic, wanderer, wild, symbol of freedom, dark
-Henry Allen: simple, content, wants to make Elisa happy


Symbols:
-Chrysanthemums: hope, Elisa's self esteem
-Planters Hands: joy/strength (curse)


Conflict:
-P vs. self: Elisa vs. self
-P vs. P: Elisa vs. Henry/Elisa vs. Tinker
-P vs. society: Elisa vs. society


Climax:
Elisa sees the chrysanthemums crushed on the ground on her way to the hotel for dinner with Henry Allen.


P.O.V.:
third person limited [you see into Elisa's mind, which shows that shes a dynamic character]


Themes:
-False hope hurts.
-Foolish trust can crush your hopes.
-One's environment can effect ones actions.


Thesis:
The lifeless setting in "Chrysanthemums" paralells Elisa's perspective on life because setting's diction, Elisa's internal conflict, and the symbolic image of the flower.