The Chrysanthemums 2

The Chrysanthemums, by John Steinbeck, is set in the beautiful valley of Salinas, California, during a time when California was the land of plenty. A place where dust storms and drought were unheard of, where water was plentiful and the air sprinkled with the sweet smell of fruit blossoms. A time when simple people farm the land and struggle to find a place for themselves in the world. Elisa Allen is at a point in …

…and vicariously experiences the suffering and longing of the lonely housewife. This story reflects the unfulfilled longings of a country housewife, who compensates for her disappointments in her life through her garden. Steinbeck's use of simple themes and his concern for common human values, stir the reader's thoughts and emotions, and leave them with an awareness of life. "This story has one rare, creative thing: a directness of impression that makes it glow with life."