The Idea Of Isolation In A Relationship In John Steinbeck’s Short Story “The Chrysanthemums”

It is understandable that couples, at times, may feel embarrassed to be completely transparent and show their true complete selves to one another, but completely isolating oneself and avoiding approaching the situation is a insinuation for disaster. In John Steinbeck’s short story “The Chrysanthemums”, the idea of isolation in a relationship is greatly explored. The central characters Elisa Allen and her husband, Henry, yearn to be understood by each other, yet are to unable to show they feel that way. The lack of interaction between Elisa and Henry reveals that both characters feel trapped in a bland relationship while their failed attempts of connecting tear them further apart. Elisa's inability to reveal her true emotions forms a great barrier in creating a genuine relationship with her husband. Throughout the story, Elisa severely struggles with confiding in and connecting with her husband. The lack of emotional openness causes such loneliness that an overwhelming desire for someone who truly understands her is developed in Elisa. When the peddler arrives, Elisa is intrigued because he is seemingly interested and fascinated by her. To gain Elisa’s trust the peddler insinuates that he has a genuine interest in Elisa’s passions and gives her the attention she desires. In reality, the peddler is solely focused on gaining for himself. When Elisa realizes she is simply being used for the benefit of the peddler, she is struck with immediate betrayal, “She tried not to look as they passed the chrysanthemums, but her eyes would not obey. She whispered to herself sadly”. Elisa’s realization that the peddler was simply filling a temporary void in her happiness causes Elisa to feel embarrassed that she allowed herself to be deceived by his dishonesty. The seclusion and embarrassment envelops Elisa causing her to further repress her emotions from her husband, “‘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’”. Elisa, engulfed in her own thoughts and sadness, avoids approaching the subject of the peddler and attempts to convince herself to be content with how things are.

Neither character is truly able to put how they feel into words which leads to dissatisfaction in the relationship. Several times, throughout the story, Henry attempts to get to know Elisa by complimenting her or simply acknowledging that he appreciates her. However, because Henry is not the best with words, Elisa often does not understand his attempts of getting to know her, “Nice? You think I look nice? What do you mean by ‘nice’?”. The discontentment Elisa has with Henry’s compliment causes Elisa to become very defensive and in turn causes a cloud of great awkwardness to fall over the two. Because Henry did not expect Elisa’s reaction, he acts out of instinct saying, “You look strong enough to break a calf over your knee, happy enough to eat it like a watermelon”. Henry’s simple attempt to give Elisa a compliment backfires and the relationship still has reached no progression. Because of the lack of connection between the two, Elisa is unable to see Henry’s perspective and he becomes so overwhelmed that he would rather obliterate the situation as a whole. Due to the absence of honest and genuine conversation, Elisa and Henry continue to grow in isolation towards one another. It is prominent that there are many conflicts in Elisa and Henry’s relationship, yet there is not one instance in which they fight. Tension within relationships ultimately prompts honest conversation and honest conversation leads to growth in relationships. The lack of tension and communication in Henry and Elisa’s relationship prevents the hope of progression. Elisa is clearly unhappy with her current position in life, but when she gets close to confronting this issue she is quick to back away. “‘What’s the matter, Elisa? Do you want to go? I don’t think you’d like it, but I’ll take you if you really want to go.’ She relaxed limply in the seat. ‘Oh, no. No. I don’t want to go. I’m sure I don’t’”. While Elisa is portrayed as a strong character throughout the majority of the story, in the end she is met with defeat. “She turned up her collar so that he could not see that she was crying — weakly like an old woman”. Because Elisa does not have anyone to confide in, Elisa must be solely dependent on herself, and the lack of conversation with Henry leads to complications and difficulty in creating a genuine relationship.

The inequality of genders is a topic that greatly influences every aspect of Henry and Elisa’s relationship. Elisa is in a continual battle with her position in society. She is constantly yearning for things she believes she cannot have when in reality she can. “I wish women could do such things”. The force restraining her from being content with what she can accomplish is both societies view on gender and her husband’s compliance to these views. Women, at the time, simply could not achieve as much as the men. To further display this, Steinbeck uses a sly comparison of the description of the sky to explain the inequality of genders. “The high grey-flannel fog of winter closed off the Salinas Valley from the sky and from the rest of the world”. When comparing this quote to gender and society, the fog symbolizes the patriarchal male; dominating the majority of the land, just as the males dominate the females. “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. In this instance the rain represents Elisa and her passiveness. Just as the rain does not come to confront fog, Elisa will never change her position in life as long as she submits to the influence of the “norm” within society. The mutual need and longing to be understood by someone is one of the few motives to form a relationship that Elisa and Henry share, yet it is one that also prevents them from growing towards one another. When Elisa explains her interest in attending a fight Henry, although caught off guard, engages in conversation with her. Henry knows it is not the norm for women to participate in male dominated events, yet he is willing to comply to her wishes. “‘What’s the matter, Elisa? Do you want to go? I don’t think you’d like it, but I’ll take you if you really want to go’”. Although Elisa may not see it, Henry does truly have compassion for his wife by doing anything within his capabilities to satisfy her. Yet, Elisa claims that she was merely asking and has no interest in going to a fight. Elisa, unready to acknowledge her true self, hides her feelings from Henry once again. In Elisa’s perspective, Henry has not explicitly shown interest or care for her passions. Because of this, the peddler is the source of interest for Elisa. “While the man came through the picket fence Elisa ran excitedly along the geranium-bordered path to the back of the house”. Because of her longing to be understood, Elisa hopes that the peddler will form a genuine connection with her; unfortunately this is not the case. Because Elisa does not see is that Henry has willingly and patiently attempted to understand her, Henry and Elisa’s relationship continues to advance to nothing.

In “The Chrysanthemums”, John Steinbeck explores the key importance of communication and effort within relationships to avoid the harsh reality of imprisonment and isolation. If one goes about their life avoiding the reality of their personal needs and desires within a relationship, one will live an unsatisfied life unable to cope with the bitterness of reality. The truth is communication in relationship, as difficult as it may be, is the true path to living a life of mutual happiness. Similar to chrysanthemums, a relationship blooms with a solid foundation; the only difference is this time it is made of respect and communication.