In this very sparse theatrical short story, Steinbeck portrays Elisa in a contradictory way. She is a childless but happily married woman who takes pride in her home and domestic skills, particulary gardening. She has built a comfortable life for her husband and herself but has become either bored or restless with the rather monotonous lifestyle she leads. For this reason she is delighted to share her passion for growing flowers with a stranger who appears at first to be sincerely interested in her hobby. When he leaves, Elisa gives him a chrysanthemum (with roots!)to be replanted and cared for - only to later discover that he has thrown it away along the way. She realizes that the Tinker's so-called interest had been only polite sham to gratify her need of recognition and acceptance.
If Steinbeck makes no outward feminist statement in "The Chrysanthemums," he nevertheless portrays Elisa in a typical "housewifey" role which does not lend full potential to her existence. Elisa is frustrated by her self-constructed boundaries, with her own "smallness" and limited scope as well as her lack of contact with the outside world. However, she never seems to have made the connection between her obsession with gardening and her need to have nurtured children (which she never had). In her attempt to find some kind of surrogate activity or preoccupation to take the place of children, she has neglected another basic need - that of finding her role in society beyond the perimeter of the ranch and her domestic responsibilities at home.
The story ends with no cymbals but rather rotates around the quiet interrogation if Elisa will indeed, upon this realization, find fulfilment after all.
No comments:
Post a Comment