Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums Many times an individual goes though an experience or lives their entire life in which they feel they are trapped and hopelessly committed to a situation. A clear example of this exact situation is brought forth in John Steinbeck’s “Chrysanthemums” in which a lady by the name of Elisa is living an a situation that leaves her feeling trapped and hopeless in the daily life in which she leads (1058-65). In the story of “Chrysanthemums” the tone of hopelessness is revealed through the use of language: specifically, diction, symbols, repetition, and figurative language. Diction is one of the main elements of language unveiled in the story of “Chrysanthemums” supporting the tone of hopelessness. Within this language element of diction word repetition is used continuously throughout the story to illustrate the tone of hopelessness. For example, the word pale is used early to describe the sunshine as well as the hillside, which sets the tone for a dark feel to begin the story (1058-59). The word good is also repeated in the story a number of times. Elisa’s husband Henry states that “It would be good for story, tone, hopelessness, language, through, situation, fence, diction, chrysanthemums, brought, word, symbolism, support, reference, example, elisa’s, elisa, trapped, repetition, lack, imagery, idea, hopeless, henry, freedom, forth, figurative, element, black, yet, throughout, suit, strong, stated, salesman