chrysanthemums
...he beauty and color of flowers was used to express emotions and feelings that would have otherwise been restricted by etiquette (Zientek 1). In this story Steinbeck hints at many emotions and feelings, but does not come out directly and speak to us, instead he uses the symbolic meanings of the chrysanthemums and color to enlighten the reader. We sense that Elisa and Henry have a pleasant, although not overly demonstrative relationship. When Henry comes to the garden neither kisses the other, nor reaches out a hand to touch. Elisa does display a strong sense of her ability through her dialogue with Henry about her new crop of flowers. “In her tone and on her face there was a little smugness” (247). Our first impressions of Elisa are cheerful, confident and truthful; all symbolic of the white chrysanthemum (geocities). Elisa’s integrity is tested when a tinker pulls into her driveway looking for work. During the beginning of the conversation she is affable with the tinker, joking about his dog and his horses, but when he asks if she needs anything fixed her demeanor becomes more defensive. She is adamant that she doesn’t need his help in repairing any items on the ranch. Her disposition remains the same until the tinker asks about the plants she is working with. It is like a switch is turned on and Elisa begins to glow. “The irritation and resistance melted from Elisa’s face” (249). Interestingly, it is here that Steinbeck tells us that she grows both white and yellow chrysanthemums. The new symbolism of the yellow mum coincides with the switch in her behavior. The negative connotations associated with the color yellow of unfaithfulness and deceit should be remembered as Elisa’s behavior towards the tinker gradually grows warmer. Elisa continues to become more excited as she discusses the chrysanthemums with the tinker. “Elisa’s eyes grew alert and eager” (250). Elisa’s reaction to the tinker’s questions is in contrast to how she reacts to her husband’s praise. Does she react differently here because the tinker is someone new and interesting compared to her husband? I think she sees the mums as an extension of herself and therefore if the tinker is attracted to the flowers, he must be attracted to her as well. Considering her isolation, Elisa might welcome new attention. When Elisa “tore off the battered hat and shook out her dark pretty hair” (250), we realize that she does enjoy this banter with the tinker, but when she abandons her gloves and digs in the dirt with bare hands we realize that she has cast her inhibitions aside. (250). Elisa’s arousal is peaking when she begins to tell the tinker about the process of cutting down the buds. “It’s the budding that takes the most care. . .She looked deep into his eyes searchingly. Her mouth opened a little” (250). Then after speaking a bit more, “her breast swelled passionately” (250). It is here, talking about the budding process that Elisa seems her most passionate. At thirty-five Elisa is not a budding adolescent, but you could say her sexuality was budding in the new social climate of the times. Not only is Elisa in her sexual prime, but given the year the story is written we can assume that Steinbeck was subtly addressing the issues of the day. One issue of primary importance was the right of a woman to have control of her own body, including reproduction and sexuality (Carnes 657). Given the distant relationship Henry and Elisa share, it is not surprising that the interest the tinker shows in something that is so close to Elisa’s heart would arouse her earthly appetites. It may be that what Elisa really desires is freedom; not just sexual freedom, but freedom to go and experience what some of America’s “new” women were experiencing. Living in the remote are that the ranch was located undoubtedly left Elisa out of much of urban socialization. The idea of wandering around the country as the tinker does appeals to her. “It must be very nice. I wish women could do such things” (251). Like the color yellow, with its multiple meanings Elisa is a woman of many emotions, some hidden from Henry. How would he react to Elisa talking about the wanderlust she feels or the fact that she might want to be more sexually expressive. She knows instinctively that he would not understand, so as they say, “mum’s the word”. The mere flirting with danger is really what excites Elisa; she knew Henry would return within two hours. Just imagining what freedom lay down the road was enough to give her a ray of hope for her future. “That’s a bright direction” (252). Elisa attempts to purify herself of the guilt she feels at having become so aroused by vigorously scrubbing her body with the pumice stone. Having cleansed herself she views her naked body in the mirror and sees herself as beautiful, with her own sexual power. She is still experiencing the sexual energy from her interaction with the tinker and purposely primps herself for a seductive evening. “She put on her newest under-clothing and her nicest stockings . . . she worked carefully on her hair, penciled her eyebrows and rouged her lips” (252). When Henry is ready to go, Elisa, still feeling potent responds to his compliments with testy, teasing. She practically goads him into telling her she looks sexy, but the most he is capable of uttering i...