The Chrysanthemums

Title: The Chrysanthemums
Author: John Steinback
Date: 11/05/08


Prereading: none


Plot/Reaction: Elisa was working in her garden when her husband Henry came home and asked if her she would like to go see a movie and have dinner that night at a fancy hotel. He told her that he'd be back around 5 so they could go out that night. She continues in her garden caring for her Chrysanthemums. A salesman stops by and asks her for directions, when really he just wants her ask for his service so he can get some money. He sees her love for her Chrysanthemums, and when Elisa continually refuses to need his services because she is perfectly capable of doing them herself. He then pulls at her heartstrings and tells her a story about a woman who would love some Chrysanthemums. She falls for it and gives him a pot with 2 sprouts in it. She also finds some work for him to do so that he can make his money. Once he gets his flower pot of Chrysanthemums and money for his work he leaves and is on his way heading in the way she told him to go. When Henry gets home and he and Elisa leave to go to dinner she gets all dressed up and looks beautiful. They take his car and on the side of the road are the Chrysanthemums she gave to the salesman. Elisa realizes he only told her that story so he could get something out of her, and she begins to tear up in the car. Elisa also realizes the many things she could do and become.


Questions: -Why was she hiding her true feelings?
-Where did Henry get all the money from that they can go spend some on dinner?


Quote: "Sand, ma'am?--Sand? Oh, sure. You mean around the chrysanthemums. Sure I will"(274). This is clear that the salesman is using her and does not care about these flowers in the way that she does. He is manipulating her so he gets something out of her, instead of the nothing she kept on proposing.

"She turned up her coat collar so he could not see that she was crying weakly--like an old woman"(278). The narrator is concluding the story here by telling the reader that Elisa is too trusting and loving. She has not experienced anything she wants and believes in people when they say they'll follow through. Here she is let down and realizes this. Elisa is comparing herself to an old woman who loves everyone and thinks the best of everyone.