The Chrysanthemums Elsa's Transformation

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In Steinbeck’s short story The Chrysanthemums Elisa, the main character, undergoes several stages of transformation. She begins the story as, what appears to be, a hard women that has been tempered by her years of work and toil on the ranch that she shares with her husband. Still with all of the outward appearance of strength, Elisa has a softness at her core that is symbolized by her prized chrysanthemums. Each stage of her transformation brings us closer to her true form. In the beginning paragraphs Elisa is described by Steinbach as having a face that is lean and strong, with eyes clear as water. In addition to the strong face she displays a blocked and heavy figure, wearing a man’s hat and a heavy corduroy apron that covers her dress almost …show more content…

At first Elisa maintains her concealment of being hard, but the hawker persists until he is able to find the way to soften her demeanor. He begins to comment on her chrysanthemums. This is the next major phase of Elisa’s transformation. She becomes excited at the fact of someone taking interest in her flowers. It is clearly evident that Elisa relates a portion of her own self-worth to these flowers that she works so hard to perfect, and she is very proud of them. It is during this conversation that she tears the old man’s hat off of her head and shakes out her long hair adding the physical transformation of …show more content…

She turns her head as they pass in an attempt to avoid seeing them directly. Elisa is obviously disturbed by the wonton discard of her prize possessions, which she has worked so hard to cultivate. Shortly after she spots the repairman’s wagon ahead of them on the road. This time she looks away ensuring that she does not make visual contact with the wagons occupant. Now Elisa is becoming distraught and her mood changes. Henry notices the change, but he is unaware of the earlier interactions of his wife and the tinker. Elisa asks if they can have wine with dinner in an attempt to make herself feel better. Elisa asks her husband about the fights that he had made mention of in the beginning of the story. She does this in the attempt to regain her smokescreen of being strong and hard. Henry answers her questions and tells her that he will take her if she really wants to go. She declines by telling him the wine will be enough as she begins to cry, due to the perceived slight at the hands of the repairman, with her head turned away so that Henry cannot witness her

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