User:Puertoricangirl14/sandbox

=Proposed edits to Wikipedia's The Chrysanthemums article for ENG1300=


 * 1) Summary
 * 2) Narrator & Point of View
 * 3) Setting
 * 4) Poetic Form
 * 5) Voice: Diction, Tone, & Style
 * 6) Themes
 * 7) Symbolism
 * 8) Figurative Language: Imagery, Metaphor, & Simile
 * 9) Sound: Rhyme, Rhythm, Alliteration & Assonance

Reading List
A numbered list of all your readings go here. Use the following format:
 * 1) Palmerino, G. J. (2004). Steinbeck's THE CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
 * 2) Dickmann, Denise "John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums": A Woman Bound By Society".
 * 3) Busch, Christopher S. (1993). "Longing for the Lost Frontier: Steinbeck's Vision of Cultural Decline in 'The White Quail' and 'The Chrysanthemums'."
 * 4) Kennedy, X. J., Gioia, Dana (2013). Literature: A Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing.

Original
When the story begins, Steinbeck addresses the weather and we see that a thick fog was covering the land: “It was a time of quiet and of waiting […] the farmers were mildly hopeful of a good rain before long; but fog and rain do not go together” (Steinbeck 438). It is important to note that the weather is introduced before our two main characters are, foreshadowing what kind of relationship they have. Palmerino sees the fog and rain as symbols of Elisa and Henry; of the female and male: “The natural elements of the foothills and ranch seem as unwilling to confront each other as the characters that inhabit its environs” (Palmerino 1). To extend this symbol into feminism, the fog symbolizes the patriarchal male; it is thick, grey and consumes the surface of the land just as the male consumes the female. The rain is Elisa; it is passive and does not come to confront fog just as the patriarchal female who submits to the male cannot confront him.

Revised
The chrysanthemums embody Elisa’s children. She takes care of her garden and handles the chrysanthemums with affection and carefulness, as she would treat her own children. Insects are prevented from causing harm to her chrysanthemums as she carefully placed a fence around the flowers. These insects or pests correspondingly signify the harmful things that may cause pain to her children. As her husband speaks of compliments on her flower, she feels some sense of self-importance. Her capability to cultivate beautiful flowers strengthens the fact that the chrysanthemums serve as her children’s replacement.

Symbolism
John Steinbeck's The Chrysanthemums" focuses on the leading female character of who is described as a strong woman named Elisa Allen. She is unsatisfied with her current way of life. She is one of the most delicious characters ever transferred from life to the pages of a book . She takes care of her chrysanthemums so as to not feel frustration. The writer applies the symbolism of chrysanthemums that represents the inner identity of Eliza as well as every woman. In the succeeding part of the story, the beautiful flowers emanate to represent the lead character’s sexuality and femininity. Although the image of Eliza cultivating her flowers appears to symbolize her being feminine, another concept arises as it is also observed that she manifests a “hard-polished” home resulting to a masculine image. This image is conveyed over into her connection with her spouse. She feels that Henry does not distinguish or esteem her femininity, and this sentiment sources her to be hostile towards him. A hint of bitterness directed to her husband because Henry continues to notice his mistakes or failures. Eliza also fails to confront her husband about the issue. Readers would surely notice the distinctive absence of harmony between the two of them of which evidently causes Eliza’s dissatisfaction with Henry. Her husband’s failure to know or consider Eliza’s necessities makes her susceptible or defenseless to the attraction of the tinker. The encounter with the tinker rejuvenates her sexuality and sense of femininity as a woman. Eliza’s struggle to resist the tinker’s dull advances diminishes as he describes the chrysanthemums but in reality suggesting to really admire not the flowers but Eliza. Through using a few well-employed words related by the tinker, Eliza’s masculine image is transformed to a feminine image. She gave a red flower pot to the tinker of which symbolizes Eliza’s inner self. However, he hope to somehow bring an excitement to her marriage quickly diminished as her husband related a rather unpleasant remark about her image.

Tone
Tone is usually described as the writer's approach to the focus of one’s work. The tone of John Steinbeck’s "The Chrysanthemums" is one of cruelty and confinement. Elisa experiences confinement and loneliness in physical and emotional ways. This idea is exposed through Steinbeck's portrayal of the Elisa and her spouse's dwelling place. Their house is not near to other houses and it remote. Eliza’s cherished garden is encircled in a fence. The place is encircled by a low fog. Her husband considers in soberness and lacks the ability to perceive the artistic beauty of matters in life. Elisa desires to have her spouse communicate to her on an expressive way, but he is not fitted out to do it. It is stated though that Henry loves her but he chooses to not being affectionate about it. Correspondingly, contributing to the tone is the tinker’s visit. It basically tells Elisa of how limited and lonely her life is. It is indicated that Eliza longed to go to other places and wondered how exciting it would be for her.

The writer exhibits an amazing capability to probe into the complications of a woman’s perception. “The Chrysanthemums” is expressed in the third person, but then over the account is offered almost completely from Elisa’s perspective. At the beginning part of the story that established the scene, the writer eliminates perceptiveness and declines to be off from Elisa’s mind. This method consents him to inspect her essence and display to the readers her world through her discernment. The readers are offered the opportunity to be in her world and be involved with her frustrations and emotional state. Almost all of Eliza’s thoughts and activities sets the tone of the story.

The Chrysanthemums” is a subtle element but piercing account of a world that has no dwelling for intellectual women. The lead female character is depicted to be intelligent, spirited, gorgeous, and determined, but all these qualities do not hold any significance. Even though the both men in the story are also not that stimulating and brilliant as of Eliza’s character, their existences and way of living are far more satisfying and full of activity. Her husband is not as smart as Elisa, but Henry is the one who supervises the ranch, sustains himself and Eliza, and creates business transactions. Eliza’s responsibility is just to watch him while he is doing his job. Whatsoever facts she acquires about the supervision of the ranch derives ultimately from her husband, who communicates only in unclear, arrogant expressions instead of considering Eliza as an important significant other. The tinker gives the impression as more cunning than that of Henry but possesses not of Elisa’s essence, passion, or hunger for adventure. Eliza related that he may not even equal her ability as a tinker. However, it is the tinker who has the opportunity to roam around the country, living an exciting life that he considers is not fit for women. The writer applies both Henry and the tinker as representations for the authoritarianism of patriarchal civilizations just as these men disregard women’s capability, hence, also does the people.