Verified Document

Chrysanthemums The Influence Of Setting Essay

As Elisa expresses it, "When the night is dark -- why, the stars are sharp-pointed, and there's quiet. Why, you rise up and up! Every pointed star gets driven into your body. It's like that. Hot and sharp and -- lovely" (par. 73). The open night sky, in contrast to the lid of fog that sits on Elisa now, is felt as a release or a joining of energies, and the fulfillment of the anticipation now felt, and this scene puts Elisa at the height of her internal awareness. She acknowledges this awareness explicitly when she tells her husband, "I'm strong…I never knew before how strong" (par. 93). A short time later, however, when she and her husband have passed the wagon on their way to dinner and she realizes that she will not really fulfill her desire or her potential...

110). Though Steinbeck has placed Elisa outside in this and several preceding paragraphs, there is no mention or description of the setting whatsoever. As it mirrored her anticipation and even her release or freedom earlier in the story, its absence now is indicative of the lack of significance that Elisa feels in her own person.
There are many other subtle ways in which the setting informs the characters in Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums." Primarily, however, it is through mirroring Elisa's internal developments that the setting influences this story. For Elisa, then, there is no release and no sharp-pointed star, but only an endless, dreary, and significance-robbing bank of fog.

Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Art Influence of Japanese Art on Western
Words: 3463 Length: 13 Document Type: Term Paper

Vincent Van Gogh, Frank Lloyd Wright and Madeleine Vionnet. What did this 19th century artist, architect, and fashion designer share in common? Very simply: They all incorporated Japanese techniques into their works of genius. When Commodore Perry opened the doors to this Eastern country in 1853, an abundance of unique and influential styles of art rushed out and captured the imaginations of artists throughout the Western world. As author Emile

Imagery & Symbolism in the
Words: 2160 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

"She relaxed limply in the seat. "Oh, no. No. I don't want to go. I'm sure I don't." Her face was turned away from him. "It will be enough if we can have wine. It will be plenty." She turned up her coat collar so he could not see that she was crying weakly -- like an old woman" (Steinbeck). There are a number of fairly eminent points to be

Shinto Religion on Japanese Politics
Words: 1861 Length: 6 Document Type: Thesis

..as Shinto was hijacked by the military before the War to their own political ends." (1999) Lamont-Brown states "...today members of the new religions-based spiritual regenerations tends to be both socially and politically conservative." (1999) the influence that is seen is the "contemporary trend for such member groupings to be more selective of their choice of candidates to support..." (Lamont-Brown, 1999) Lamount-Brown states that the Risshokosekai has five million members

Sonny's Blues, James Baldwin Offers
Words: 602 Length: 2 Document Type: A-Level Coursework

"The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin shows how women's personal liberty may be subjugated to and circumscribed by the wills of their husband. Mrs. Mallard considers herself to be liberated from this influence when her husband has been mistakenly proclaimed dead; excited at the opportunity to be able to live her life for herself, instead of acquiescing to him, she dies upon discovering that he is still very

Social Development in Early Childhood and Future
Words: 2380 Length: 6 Document Type: Essay

Social Development in Early Childhood and Future Academic Success Teachers have long reported a positive correlation between a child's social/emotional development and academic success. The purpose of this paper is to review four articles that report on research examining this relationship. Han, H.S., and Thomas, M.S. (2010). No child misunderstood: Enhancing early childhood teachers' multicultural responsiveness to the social competence of diverse children. Early Childhood Education Journal 37(6), pp. 469-476. The majority of

Open Boat Stephen Crane's Short Story "The
Words: 1283 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

Open Boat Stephen Crane's short story "The Open Boat" is very much "open" to interpretation. The story revolving around four men on a small boat braving a raging sea in hopes to save themselves from death points to many interesting comparisons and deep symbolism. The purpose of this essay is to examine the five main characters of this story and how they collectively represent something more than the sum of their

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now