The Chrysanthemums Analysis
A comparison between A Rose for Emily and The Chrysanthemums
Obviously, the short stories—William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily and The Chrysanthemums written by John Steinbeck have something in common; but also there are some different between them.
The main characters of those two stories both are women. Emily is the protagonist of A Rose for Emily and Elisa is the most important character in The Chrysanthemums. Both of them are isolated with outside—Emily always stays in her big mansion; and Elisa works hard on her farm in the valley.
Emily is a lonely, obstinate and abnormal woman. She is hard to accept those who she loved leave her, like her father and the labor. She even killed Homer Barron, kept his body in the room and slept with the body every night—just because Homer Barron didn’t want marry her. By …show more content…
contrast, Elisa who is isolated by the valley also is lonely, nobody appreciates her talent, even her husband said: "Some of those yellow chrysanthemums you had this year were ten inches across. I wish you'd work out in the orchard and raise some apples that big.” (Steinbeck) Her husband only cares about those things that can take real benefits; but she more likes a normal woman than Emily. She desires to see outside world and somebody can appreciate his talent. The women like two typical microcosms of their era.
In addition to character, we can also compare the style of the two short stories.
Both stories offer a wealth of description, but in A Rose for Emily, the author did some foreshadowing and hints instead of telling readers the fact directly. Illustration, “Then we noticed that in the second pillow was the indentation of a head. One of us lifted something from it, and leaning forward, that faint and invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils, we saw a long strand of iron-gray hair. (Faulkner)” This text is a hint that the author left. It let readers know that Emily was lying with the body recently. In contrast, The Chrysanthemums is easier understanding than A Rose for Emily; the author of The Chrysanthemums left some space to readers to think but not left any suspense. We can feel Elisa’s emotion intuitively without guess. For example, the author wrote: “Kneeling there, her hand went out toward his legs in the greasy black trousers. Her hesitant fingers almost touched the cloth. Then her hand dropped to the ground. She crouched low like a fawning dog (Steinbeck).” Readers can image the action, expression and emotion of Elisa easily from those
words.
Last but not least, the symbols of A Rose for Emily and The Chrysanthemums. Both the titles of the two stories each contains a kind of flowers—a rose and chrysanthemums. The rose is a symbol of Emily’s love. When Emily was young, she is pretty and has many pursuers; but her father refused all the men by his own thought. After Emily’s father died, Emily met Homer Barron who she really loves. This love is the first and only rose in her life. Emily killed Homer and keeps the body as making dried flower. She doesn’t want the love disappear, so that she use this way to leave her lover on. In The Chrysanthemums, the chrysanthemums symbolize Elisa. Like the chrysanthemums, Elisa is lovely, strong, and thriving, but in most people’s eyes, especially the men, she just a decoration, nobody cares her talent and thoughts, even her husband.
In conclusion, A rose for Emily and The Chrysanthemums revolve around woman’s life. Emily and Elisa have different character, but both of them are unfortunate and lonely. William Faulkner and John Steinbeck used wealth of descriptions, but A Rose for Emily is more complicated and The Chrysanthemums is straighter. In both stories the flowers have very important but distinct symbolic significance.
Obviously, the short stories—William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily and The Chrysanthemums written by John Steinbeck have something in common; but also there are some different between them.
The main characters of those two stories both are women. Emily is the protagonist of A Rose for Emily and Elisa is the most important character in The Chrysanthemums. Both of them are isolated with outside—Emily always stays in her big mansion; and Elisa works hard on her farm in the valley.
Emily is a lonely, obstinate and abnormal woman. She is hard to accept those who she loved leave her, like her father and the labor. She even killed Homer Barron, kept his body in the room and slept with the body every night—just because Homer Barron didn’t want marry her. By …show more content…
contrast, Elisa who is isolated by the valley also is lonely, nobody appreciates her talent, even her husband said: "Some of those yellow chrysanthemums you had this year were ten inches across. I wish you'd work out in the orchard and raise some apples that big.” (Steinbeck) Her husband only cares about those things that can take real benefits; but she more likes a normal woman than Emily. She desires to see outside world and somebody can appreciate his talent. The women like two typical microcosms of their era.
In addition to character, we can also compare the style of the two short stories.
Both stories offer a wealth of description, but in A Rose for Emily, the author did some foreshadowing and hints instead of telling readers the fact directly. Illustration, “Then we noticed that in the second pillow was the indentation of a head. One of us lifted something from it, and leaning forward, that faint and invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils, we saw a long strand of iron-gray hair. (Faulkner)” This text is a hint that the author left. It let readers know that Emily was lying with the body recently. In contrast, The Chrysanthemums is easier understanding than A Rose for Emily; the author of The Chrysanthemums left some space to readers to think but not left any suspense. We can feel Elisa’s emotion intuitively without guess. For example, the author wrote: “Kneeling there, her hand went out toward his legs in the greasy black trousers. Her hesitant fingers almost touched the cloth. Then her hand dropped to the ground. She crouched low like a fawning dog (Steinbeck).” Readers can image the action, expression and emotion of Elisa easily from those
words.
Last but not least, the symbols of A Rose for Emily and The Chrysanthemums. Both the titles of the two stories each contains a kind of flowers—a rose and chrysanthemums. The rose is a symbol of Emily’s love. When Emily was young, she is pretty and has many pursuers; but her father refused all the men by his own thought. After Emily’s father died, Emily met Homer Barron who she really loves. This love is the first and only rose in her life. Emily killed Homer and keeps the body as making dried flower. She doesn’t want the love disappear, so that she use this way to leave her lover on. In The Chrysanthemums, the chrysanthemums symbolize Elisa. Like the chrysanthemums, Elisa is lovely, strong, and thriving, but in most people’s eyes, especially the men, she just a decoration, nobody cares her talent and thoughts, even her husband.
In conclusion, A rose for Emily and The Chrysanthemums revolve around woman’s life. Emily and Elisa have different character, but both of them are unfortunate and lonely. William Faulkner and John Steinbeck used wealth of descriptions, but A Rose for Emily is more complicated and The Chrysanthemums is straighter. In both stories the flowers have very important but distinct symbolic significance.