How Does Elsa Allen Change In The Chrysanthemums

Elisa Allen, in the short story “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck, is first introduced as a wife to her husband, working in her garden. However, her role in the work is significant and major. Through descriptive, third person narration it is known that Elisa undergoes change physically, mentally and emotionally in the story, and not only once. She starts with a dull, masculine, unappreciated sense and moves to a feminine, eager, happy, and strong attitude. Although Elisa’s transformation is positive, it is ultimately reversed in the end. Elisa’s shift is inspired from the interactions with and actions of the tinker. The conversion in Elisa is shown clearly and directly through her behavior and her husband, Henry’s dialogue and response.

As the story begins, she sweats over her garden and she is given characterization, “Her figure looked blocked and heavy in her gardening costume covered by a big corduroy apron with four big pockets to hold the snips, the trowel and scratcher, the seeds and the knife she worked with” (321). The way she is portrayed while working develops a masculine sense of her in the mind. Her face is “mature and handsome” and her work is “over-powerful” with the chrysanthemums (321). Elisa’s strong nature is short and only towards the flowers. Her husband, Henry, quickly reminds her that although her gardening is honorable, she cannot participate in anything much larger than just her small flower garden. Unappreciated and of little importance to her businessman of a husband, Elisa longs to be more valuable. Additionally, Elisa is hesitant and dull as Henry says, ‘“There’s fights tonight. How’d you like to go to the fights?”’ and Elisa replies breathlessly, ‘“Oh, no,”’, ‘“No, I wouldn’t like fights”’ (322). Elisa is resistant of doing something slightly dangerous, out of the ordinary, and out of character. The work begins with Elisa inhabiting masculinity, hesitancy, lack of value, and strong nature in her garden, but that soon

At first, Elisa is cordial and shares some dialogue with the man, but shows no interest in what he is trying to sell to her. Then, everything changes when the tinker asks about the chrysanthemums. Proud of her flowers, Elisa’s eyes “grew alert and eager” (324). The man lifts Elisa’s spirits by giving her attention and making her feel purpose for her gardening and her life. Once the tinker leaves, Elisa becomes more feminine as she showers and puts on “her newest underclothing and her nicest stockings and the dress which was the symbol of her prettiness” to get ready for dinner (326-327). She also is more powerful and vibrant. Immediately, Henry notices a change when he sees her and says, “you look different, strong and happy” (327). Elisa, first unsure of what Henry is trying to imply, questions him. But, then she becomes confident and agrees with Henry and exclaims, “I’m strong” (327). However, with such change comes some reversal as Elisa sees her chrysanthemums the tinker must have thrown along the side of the road. Henry says, “Now you’re changed again”, as Elisa’s firm, independent, and positive self grows upset and weak. She once again is useless, but more feminine than ever as she “turned up her coat collar so he couldn’t not see that she was crying weakly – like an old woman” (328). Elisa Allen develops a sense of purpose and power from the tinker’s interest, but his denial makes her more