Character Analysis Elisa Allen Essay - 867 Words

John Steinbeck has a very engaging mind. He not only makes people think when they read his work; he makes them think through a number of scenarios with his tales. I believe that looking at this story, you sense this woman, Elisa Allen, is a woman who is very unhappy with her life. The only satisfaction Elisa gets out of life is being in her garden with her family of chrysanthemums. Elisa is very unsettled with her life as a whole. She does not like being stuck on the farm, away from the world and people outside her valley. She does not have any children so she treats her chrysanthemums as if they were her only allowed talent, gift, and special accomplishment, since they are a childless couple. Elisa lives in the valley with her†¦show more content†¦This man travels up and down the west coast for months at a time going from town to town looking for work to be able to make a living. He mends pots, sharpens knives, and scissors. He is a very big man who seems to prey on the weak-minded to earn his living. The man asks Elisa if she has any pots or scissors that she needs fixed. He hints at being offered a meal. Elisa brushed the man off, until he noticed, then realized her weakness, her passion, and her pride. Then he began asking about her flowers, and began asking her about getting some for a customer of his. Then he had her full attention, and she gave in and went in search of some old metal pots the man could fix. The man was very friendly towards Elisa; he was either very smart or he was a con man trying to say whatever to get what he wanted. He acted as though he was interested in her flowers but he was really interested in something else. He was not int erested in her chrysanthemums; he just wanted to make some money and eat that night and maybe have a quick sexual interlude with Elisa to hold him over until his next stop or opportunity. The man acknowledges that Elisa is at a crossroads in her life and she needs some excitement. The man takes advantage of Elisa while she is in a fragile, stagnant stage in her life. Maybe he was just at the right spot at the right moment in his eyes. Steinbeck stated: The mans eyes narrowed. He looked away self-consciously.Show MoreRelatedEssay on Character Analysis of Elisa Allen in The Chrysanthemums747 Words   |  3 PagesCharacter Analysis of Elisa Allen in The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck The Chrysanthemums, written by John Steinbeck, captures one day in the life of a woman who yearns for a more fulfilling life. Elisa is first portrayed as a woman whose tasks are exceeded by her abilities. As the day continues, a stranger briefly enters her life and, through manipulative words, fills her heart with hopes of change and excitement. 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