The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck - Book Report/Review Example

The Chrysanthemums John Steinbeck is a prolific novelist renowned for his novel Grapes of Wrath. However, he was also a brilliant short story writer with incisive skill in dissecting human desires and pleasures as noted in his story Chrysanthemums. It is a story about love, deceit, hypocrisy, and dishonest especially among men in America. On the other hand, while the characterization is limited to few characters such as Henry and his wife, Elisa, numerous literary techniques are evident throughout the short fiction. Additionally, the author is mainly concerned with the usage of symbolism and motifs that cast his characters as hypocritical beings trapped in a patriarchal social structure (George 134). This is notable in the intricate life of the central characters especially when they are confronted by the illusions of life such as finding chrysanthemum shoots by the roadside. The Chrysanthemums is a short story by John Steinbeck that revolves around the lives of his two protagonists namely Elisa Allen and Henry. It opens on the Salinas Valley where fog has draped the entire scene proving it impossible for Henry’s family to manage their ranch effectively. Elisa, therefore, has the traits of dedication and strength and this is demonstrated by her resilience in approaching most of the farm work. Similarly, her skills with flowers display a persistent virtue to protect the integrity of the family in spite of domestic numerous challenges. On the other hand, Henry is cast as a serious man determined to integrate effort in all his daily endeavors. Unfortunately, Henry is also a dull person lacking the requisite skills and capabilities to please his wife and this often causes unnecessary tension in whole short story. Contrastingly, while Henry is a focused husband, he suffers the pitfalls of patriarchal bias because he treats his wife as a child. Instead of encouraging Elisa to realize her potential, Henry resorts to gender based assessment of the roles and responsibilities for his wife whom he believes is only prefers movies and dinners (Kordich 109). Undermining of women is, thus, a strong feeling that defines Henry’s life who does not view women as equals. Another interesting character in the story is Tinker depicted as smart and calculating in his quest for a job. For example, despite his limited reading capabilities, he still has the capacity to convince Elisa to buy chrysanthemum shoots. The plot development is another interesting aspect that echoes in Steinbeck’s story with its linear format of narration. It begins with the vivid illustration of the foothill ranch belonging to Henry Allen as Elisa works tirelessly on the flower garden. Elisa is an attractive woman in her mid thirties, but ensnared in a patriarchal society where women where men’s clothes. Masculinity is a recurrent aspect in the plot even as Elisa tends on chrysanthemums flowers as she admires strange such as Tinker (Railsback & Meyer 166). The immaculate nature of her house is also an integral element in exposing the inner conflicts that consistently confront Henry’s wife to find distractions in her life. It is during this hectic period of Elisa’s life that her husband requests her for a dinner in the town of Salinas. Henry is excited to take his wife out because he wants them to see fights while his Elisa is opposed to that idea. As the story comes to a close, the chance upon discarded chrysanthemum shoots by the roadside probably thrown by Tinker. Tinker’s wagon is equally static and this development hugely stresses Elisa who is apprehensive about the imminent dinner with her husband. Later, she hides herself from Henry and breaks into sobs because of the bad feelings that are coursing inside her. Steinbeck employs diverse literary techniques in making his narrative both interesting and deep in casting the intended message. For example, the extensive application of symbolism mixed with epiphany emphasizes the writer’s intention to delivery his story with utmost clarity. This is apparent in the use of Salinas Valley that wholly connotes the idyllic lifestyle of Henry and Elisa Allen. Unfortunately, this idyllic setting is also a manifestation of the complacency of the characters becoming better people. It also points at the confusion in life when young couples lack a clear direction in life. The mixed conflict extrapolates the essence of symbolism even when Henry’s actions are commensurate with the goals and objectives of an ideal family. Vivid use of imagery such as the contrasting of the grey world that characterizes Eliza’s life and her lightness exposes the physical, mental, and isolation of the text. Interestingly, the first paragraph is full of flowery usage of words to illustrate the meaning of the setting and the subsequent expectations for the reader. “The high grey-flannel fog of winter closed off the Salinas Valley from the sky and from all of the rest of the world (Steinbeck 1).” Allegory to inanimate objects also echo in the narrative particularly help toward understanding human desires. The disposal of the chrysanthemums by the roadside is deeper reflection of Eliza’s life with her husband. In other words, the narrator attempts to compare the deliberate neglect of Henry’s wife and the emerging challenges of domestic families in contemporary American. Tinker, on the one hand, is an allegorical portrait of ignorance and the injustices of education and how it continues to affect the lower class. However, the deliberate use of personification that entails the explicit use of chrysanthemums denotes the contradictions of life and how it affects the innocent persons. Henry also personifies the typical American nation where men are more worthy than women because of the patriarchal domination in the social structures and systems. This strengthened by the dramatic irony that occurs at the end of the story when Elisa breaks into sobs instead of expressing gratitude for a date from husband, Henry. Steinbeck writes “She turned up her coat collar so he could not see that she was crying weakly--like an old woman (Steinbeck 3).” The cries are also a direct connotation of how citizens live under false deception of life. Thematic concerns evolve throughout Steinbeck’s story both as a means of sensitizing and educating society. Love, for illustration, runs through the narrative between Henry Allen and his wife, Elisa. This theme also helps in binding the narrative into a fluid tale where humanity loves one another in terms of both successes and failure. Conversely, hypocrisy is another significant theme that tries to explain the inner details of comprehending individuals (George 139). Tinker is an exemplification of how humanity could be deceptive in assisting others especially when they turn judgmental. Elisa refuses to give Tinker a job because he is not educated in spite of her attraction to the man’s chrysanthemums. It also exposes deceit and dishonest that usually guides human beings into tricking others to help them nurse their bad feelings while they do not intend to express back the gratitude. The author, therefore, assists in the wider interpretation of literary texts with emphasis on short fiction that is often judged by its small time limit. By using the short story format, Steinbeck wishes to freeze the tortured life of Henry Allen and his wife and also force America to view itself through the main characters (Tomberger et al 99). Alternatively, while the writer manages to address or highlight some of the weight themes affecting his nation, he does not offer any viable solution. This indicates that he is giving the reader varied options of seeking for other choices in life to explain the predicament of his characters in the story. Overall, this equally ensures that the short story is enjoyed for its aesthetic purpose. Works Cited George, Stephen. The Moral Philosophy of John Steinbeck. Mason, OH: Scarecrow. 2005. Print. Kordich, Catherine. Blooms How to Write about John Steinbeck. New Jersey, NY: Infobase Publishing. Railsback, Brian & Meyer, Michael. A John Steinbeck Encyclopedia. New York, NY: Greeenwood Publishing Group. 2006. Print. Steinbeck, John. Chrysanthemums. New York, NY: SAGE. 2010. Print. Tomberger, Fend et al. Feminist, Phenomenological and Psychoanalytic Approaches to "The Chrysanthemums" by John Ernst Steinbeck. New York, NY: GRIN Verlag. 2013. Print. Read More