Monday, February 4, 2013
The Chrysanthemums
After reading The Chrysanthemums and discussing with a few others, there are many questions that haven't been answered. One that still crosses my mind was why was Elisa Allen crying at the end? In the passage it says "She was kneeling on the ground looking up at him. Her breast swelled passionately. The man's eyes narrowed. He looked away self-consciously... Elisa's voice grew husky. She broke in on him. "I've never lived as you do, but I know what you mean. When the night is dark--why, the stars are sharp pointed and there's quiet. Why, you rise up and up! Every pointed star gets driven into your body. Its like that. Hot and sharp and--lovely."(page 6) Could she be crying because of guilt? The guilt of even thinking about possibly committing adultery and how attempted to seduce the man in the wagon. What are your insights on this?
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I really didn't acknowledge this section of the story but now that you mention it I agree that she was tempted but she was able to restraint herself before anything "sinful" occurred. Elisa was strong enough to resist therefore, I believe that when her husband expressed to her how strong she looked she felt victorious. The chrysanthemums were deeply embraced by Elisa and they were part of her so when she saw them laying on the side of the road she felt a deep sadness. Elisa was joyful to see that someone was interested in the flowers even if they were for someone else but, she still felt recognized. However, this proves that since she is a woman men have the right to take advantage of them which might have caused her to weaken I guess.
ReplyDeleteI doubt that Elisa viewed the man in the wagon in that matter. On page 5, it says that "Elisa's eye grew alert and eager" when the man brought up the chrysanthemums. The chrysanthemums were the only reason she opened up to him, not because she was trying to "seduce" him. To me, that part where she questions him about his life, was not to convince him to take her, but it was because she was generally curious, since that was the kind of life she dreamed about.
ReplyDelete"'It must be nice,' she said. 'It must be very nice. I wish women could do such things.'" (page 7)
I believe that the chrysanthemums were in a way a representation of Elisa's hopes and dreams. When the man threw out her flowers as if they were nothing, it hurt her. Somewhere in her mind, it must've clicked that she was condemned to continue to live such an oppressed life. Her dreams were nothing to those around her. (particularly men)
On page 9 it says: "The roadster turned a bend and she saw the caravan ahead. She swung full around toward her husband so she could not see the little covered wagon.... In a moment it was over. The thing was done. She did not look back..."
DeleteThis passage really stuck out to me, i believe it represented her giving up, or turning her back on her dreams. This is why she grieved in the end, she realized that things would never change. That must've broke her heart to come face to face with that reality.