“the Chrysanthemums” Study Questions

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Elisa Allen's physical appearance is very mannish yet still allows a hint of a feminine side to peek through. On the first page of the story it states “Her face was eager and mature and handsome; even her work with the scissors was over-eager, over-powerful” In the story Elisa Allen is a sexually repressed and discouraged women is isolated from society ,however she still retains her values. She is also trapped in a fruitless marriage with her husband. The man who stopped by the ranch was a handyman. He is described as a very big man with grey hair and beard. Although he has grey hair he does not appear to be old. When the stranger first arrived Elisa was welcoming to him. Her first response to him was laughter. The visitor creates trust when he shows interest in her flowers. He offers to take some of Elisa chrysanthemums to a garden down the road Elisa behavior towards him changes after he offers to take the flowers to a nearby garden. Her mood changed from irritated and resistance to excited. Elisa is very frustrated with life and marriage that she eventually looks to the stranger for stimulating conversation and even sex, two things that are lacking in her life. When the stranger leaves Elsa changes her physical appearance.She now dresses like a women, wears makeup, and even fixes her hair. When her husband returned she dressed up for him, even putting on makeup she also laid his clothes out on the bed for him and ran a hot bath. The chrysanthemum represents Elisa's female qualities, the man's taking the chrysanthemums represents her giving up a part of herself. When Elisa sees the flowers on the side of the road, her dreams are shattered and ruined as is the flower. This changes Elisa again, along with her new confidence. During the travel home Elisa talks to her husband bout fights. She says "Well, I've read how they break noses, and blood runs

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