Purpose Of Communication In Marriage
John Steinbeck’s novel “The Chrysanthemums”, dives into Elisa Allen’s world. She is 35 and childless. She also feels very dissatisfied by her passionate but clueless marriage. This feeling is also influenced by her low self-confidence. She may be able to feel a little happier with her chrysanthemums, but she will never overcome her feelings of dissatisfaction.
Elisa’s marriage is deeply unhappy. Elisa is deeply unhappy with her marriage. Elisa feels a disconnect from Henry as a result of this lack togetherness. This feeling is illustrated by Henry saying that he “sold a thirty-head of three-year steers”, and getting “nearly a price I got” (Steinbeck). Elisa’s reaction is “Good ,…Good For You” (Steinbeck). Her response shows that, despite the fact that this achievement is good for them both, she only celebrates Henry’s accomplishment.
Elisa also blames her unhappy marriage on Henry’s non-communication. They know how they can have a disagreement. The fog is mentioned in the opening of the book, as are the farmers’ hopes for rain. Elisa, like the fog, is too blurry while Henry is completely absent. Henry tells Elisa that a fight is taking place and asks jokingly if she would like to go. Elisa replies “Oh, no… I wouldn’t want fights”, implying that their relationship cannot grow stronger because there is no friction.
Elisa’s lack of self-confidence is a major obstacle to her happiness. Her clothing is described this way: “Her appearance looked blocky and heavy with her gardening costume. She wore a man’s dark hat, pulled low, over her eyes. She wore clod-hoppers, a figured dress, almost completely covered up by a corduroy shirt. And she sported heavy leather gloves for protection while she was working.” It allows her not to draw attention and blend in. It is possible that her lack of self-confidence stems from the limited scope of her existence. The Salinas Valley is isolated from the outside world and from the sky by the high grey-flannel winter fog. On all sides it was like a lid covering the mountains. It made the whole valley seem closed (Steinbeck). In this closed-off pot, she feels like her only skill is growing chrysanthemums. Elisa also avoids Henry’s invitation when he asks her to raise an apple crop alongside chrysanthemums. Elisa, who has “planter’s hand” and is so energetic that she can destroy pests before they start, such as aphids or snails, refuses to take Henry’s offer. Elisa is hesitant to take up the offer despite having “planter’s hands” that destroyed pests such as aphids, sowbugs, and snails “before they could get started”, and an abundance of energy.
In Elisa’s dissatisfaction world, chrysanthemums provide her with the greatest joy and pride. Unbeknownst of her, she was conned by a tinker who showed up in her garden and asked for a new pot. The tinker first asks Elisa for work, saying “I sharpen knives and fix pots.” You have anything you want to do? (Steinbeck). Elisa initially appears visibly annoyed that the man bothers her, but after the tinker finds the chrysanthemums and tries to find a way to connect, “the irritation melted off Elisa’s faces” (Steinbeck). Her eyes shone as she explained her chrysanthemums. Elisa is given a new strength by the sexual bonding they experience over their mutual appreciation for the chrysanthemums. Henry admires the chrysanthemums of Elisa for their size and functionality, “Some yellow chrysanthemums were 10″ across”. The tinker, however, “appreciates them” for their beauty. Looks like smoke in a hurry? (Steinbeck). Elisa’s husband is unable to get a reaction from her. Elisa was happy to help the man get some chrysanthemums, which he wanted to take to an elderly woman in the neighborhood. She “ran happily along the geranium – bordered pathway to the backyard” to retrieve a pot. It is an indication that she has softened and opened up to him in a manner which she would not for her husband. She is able to leave her confinement and gain hope in the future because of her connection with the tinker.
The tinker and Elisa also talked about life on the move. Elisa imagined what travelling would be like. She challenged the Tinker saying: “You might find yourself a competitor someday.” I can also sharpen the scissors. I can remove dents from small pots. “I can show you how a woman would act” (Steinbeck). The man said, “It would make a woman’s life lonely and frightening, with all the animals that creeped under her wagon every night” (Steinbeck). Elisa comments, “That’s an exciting direction” as he drives away. Elisa’s glowing suggests that she believes she can still be successful at something else that doesn’t involve her chrysanthemums.
She dresses in her most beautiful clothes to prepare for dinner with her spouse after meeting the tinker. She hopes to receive a similar response to the tinker’s chrysanthemums from her husband. Henry is oblivious to her request to be called beautiful. He simply says “You are so lovely” when he sees her. Henry has good intentions but cannot connect emotionally with his spouse. He is blinded to his own role and work as the breadwinner of the family, so he doesn’t realize that Elisa has a need for more satisfaction in her life.
Elisa, as they drive to dinner with the tinker notices that her flowers have been thrown into the road. Elisa is hurt because she was so open and honest with the tinker about her chrysanthemums. The tinker, like Henry, only wanted to use the pot the chrysanthemums had been in for practical reasons and left the flowers to die. She feels a loss of strength and is again limited.
Elisa is shocked to discover that the flowers she had given away, expecting that the recipient would take care of them, have been thrown in the wind. This realization makes her cry and hide her face. She begins to cry “weakly like an elderly woman” (Steinbeck). Her husband cannot emotionally connect to her in order to understand what’s wrong. Elisa is unable to overcome her perceptions of limitations. In the end, Elisa decides not to take the risk of failing at her dream that could allow her to live a more fulfilling and free life. She settles for her old life, even though it is a life filled with suffering.
