Valentina's Group Answers for "The Chrysanthemums"
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Valentina's Answer at Writeboard
Lien's Answer at Writeboard
Rahel's Answer at Writeboard
Friday, November 2, 2007
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4 comments:
Why does Elisa want to see a fight at the end of the story? Why does she begin to cry?
A fight for Elisa emphasizes a burst of overwhelming eager to change in some way her isolated life. She leads a very domestic, monotonous life and in spite of “ the neat white farm house, “ a great cattle herd and a good husband, Elisa is unhappy. The tinker stirs her adventurous spirit that still flickers inside her. His mention about sleeping in the wagon in any weather, rain or shine, makes Elisa feel the affinity of their souls. “I know what you mean. It’s like hot and sharp – lovely,” she said. But when Elisa sees the thrown sprouts on the road, she understands that the tinker has pretended all the time, having something in common with her, in order to get finally the money and the pot. She knows nothing is going to change; all remains the same. She is disappointed in her life so much that she cries desperately – “ like an old woman.”
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Answer for Lien:
8. After the tinker leaves, what does Elisa do, and why? Why do her actions and speeches confuse Henry?
John Steinbeck’s The Chrysanthemums, Elisa changes her appearance and behavior after the tinker leaves. She dresses in a fancy lady’s clothes, “her newest underclothing, her nicest stocking and dress” and puts on make up and spends time to work on her hair. It shows that she is ready to go out before Henry gets home from work. She alters because her mind is shifted by the tinker’s imply when he says he knows how to fix an old pot to become a new one, and says “I could show you what a woman might do”. It means that Elisa is like an old pot, she should look after her beauty and looks even more beautiful if she knows how to. Also, she sees that the tinker works passionately with his job, like her love to work in the Chrysanthemum’s garden every day, but he has a freedom and life’s experience, so she tries to explore like him. Henry is confused by Elisa’s actions and speeches because he usually sees Elisa is in a man’s big hat and gardening’s costume, without make up and with untidy hair. He often decides most things, not her. This time she is interested in going out, and seeing a fight and talking about a fight. Elisa turns into a different person after the tinker leave, and her ways puzzle Henry too.
Why does Steinberk spend so much time describing Elisa's clothes? How does her clothes progress through the story?
Elisa spends a lot of time in her garden growing chrysanthemums. During her working hours, she is covered by an apron, gloves, and a battered hat which hides her dark pretty hair. She is kept in a repetitive state; where her beauty is not easily recognized. Steinbeck describes Elisa's garden clothing as if it blocks her natural beauty. Instead as the story progresses, a different outlook of Elisa is shown. "In my room, dressing. I'm not ready." She takes her time dressing up and carefully applies make-up on her face. The feminine side of Elisa appears, and later on surprises Henry. The change of her clothing brought a more closer connection between Henry and Elisa.
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why does Elisa want to see a fight at the end of the story ? why does she begin to cry?
I think she wants to see the fight at the end of the story because she realises that wemon arn't restricted to do simple little task. That wemon can be equal to men. She learns this from the man that comes and sees her because he does things for a living that she can do to. She feels impowered and feels like she is able to see the fights to and i get the sense that she might even want to try it. The reason Elise is crying is because she knows that she might never be able to be equal to men even though she is prefectly capable in doing some of the things they do.
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