Fragrant Conflict Steinbeck quot;Chysanthemumsquot;...

Within Steinbecks story, Chrysanthemums, the main character, Elisa Allen, is confronted with many instances of conflict. Steinbeck uses chrysanthemums to symbolize this conflict and Elisas self-worth. By examining these points of conflict and the symbolism presented by the chrysanthemums, the meaning of the story can be better determined. The first time the reader encounters conflict occurs when Elisa is tending to her chrysanthemums in her garden. As she works, Elisa handles the flowers with care and compassion; she makes certain that nothing will come to harm them as though they were her own children; No aphids were there, no sowbugs or snails or cutworms. Her terrier fingers destroyed such pests before they could get started.†¦show more content†¦In this meeting, the tinker, a nomadic man, comes to Elisa and admires her flowers. Since the chrysanthemums represent interests, the tinker is essentially admiring Elisa, and at the same time he is filling the void of attention that Elisa is yearning for; this then causes Elisa to resent her husband, but at the same time she recognizes her beauty. After she gives the tinker some chrysanthemums, Elisa takes a bath, scrubbing herself with a little block of pumice, legs, thighs, loins and arms. (278) Once done, she admires herself in the mirror. She tightened her s tomach and threw out her chest. (278) This encounter gives Elisa a new direction. As a result of the encounter, she not only gains a new sense of value for her self, but as she, ...worked carefully on her hair, pencilled her eyebrows and roughed her lips, (278) she is thinking that the lack of romance in her marriage may be dissolved. The chrysanthemums are used symbolically when there is conflict between Elisa and herself. Elisa and her husband go to spend an evening together to celebrate the sale of some livestock. On the way to dinner, Elisa is still feeling revived by her encounter until: Far ahead on the road Elisa saw a dark speck. She knew. She tried not to look as they passed, but her eyes would not obey. She whispered to herself sadly. He might have thrown them off the road. That wouldnt have been much