The title, ‘The Chrysanthemums’ connotes to a pretty yellow flower. Chrysanthemums are the centre of Elisa Allen’s life and the ‘The’ in the title reflects the importance of the flower in the story. On the other hand, Lawrence has chosen a more pessimistic title in ‘Odour of Chrysanthemums.’ The title shows that the chrysanthemums are not something pleasant, as ‘odour’ suggests this. The title gives the reader a hint that the chrysanthemums are a negative part of Elizabeth Bates’ life.
The two stories feature a long opening that describes the setting, which is entirely different although they were written about the same time. Steinbeck begins the story with a description of a secluded village in the Salinas Valley, California. It is compared to a closed pot as the fog covers the valley from the sky, “On every side it sat like a lid on the mountains and made of the great valley a closed pot”. It is written in a very dull tone, as the opening does not suggest any joy in the valley. It also reflects entrapment, which is parallel to Elisa Allen, who was trapped in her world of housework and her role of a wife. Whereas a mining town during the industrial age, England, is where Elizabeth Bates waited for her husband to return from work. A detailed description of machines such as the train and the truck suggests that the machines are dominating Elizabeth’s life. A clear similarity in the openings is that they do not imply any happiness. They seem to have a depressing hangover perhaps to indicate that the two main characters put up with individual problems.
A shared symbol by both stories is the chrysanthemums. As both titles would indicate that the chrysanthemums play a significant role in the stories, the role can be assumed as opposites. In ‘The Chrysanthemums’, the chrysanthemums were described as being large, bright and beautiful and seemed like a stress-reliever for Elisa. She spends a lot of her time taking care of her chrysanthemums to try to get away from the lack of respect she receives as a woman. Elisa ‘raises’ her chrysanthemums as though they were like her children. The flowers were her passion and pride and her flower garden was her prized possession that she was very proud of. However, she seems to want more from life than taking care of the garden, ‘the chrysanthemums seem too small an easy for her energy.’ This is further exposed when Elisa is awed by the tinker’s freedom.
In the other story, the chrysanthemums are described to be pink, wild, small and fragile. The flower reminds Elizabeth of the different episodes of her life with the husband. It is the symbol of their marriage but Elizabeth doesn’t think the chrysanthemums are beautiful. This can be shown in her short laugh as she responds to her daughter’s positive remark on the chrysanthemums. Just like her marriage. The chrysanthemums represent the love and bond between she and her husband that has long ceased. This can be felt with her description of chrysanthemum to Annie, her daughter, “… chrysanthemums when I married him, … chrysanthemums when you were born, … brought him home drunk … brown chrysanthemums in his button-hole”. Chrysanthemums are no longer beautiful to her as they were presented to her from the happiest moment to the saddest moment in her life.
Henry Allen and Walter Bates are the two male characters that play an important role in moulding the characters of the two women. In ‘The Chrysanthemums’, Henry is a hardworking rancher who loves and cares for his wife. This is shown when Henry accepts his wife’s opinion about going to fights and instead takes her to a movie and dinner. He appears to do all the work in the ranch, leaving Elisa a lot of free time, which she chooses to work on her garden. Although this is not mentioned this can be seen through the amount of effort and time she puts into the chrysanthemums. On the other hand, Walter in ‘Odour of Chrysanthemums’ seems to be irresponsible and spends more time drinking after work than with his family. Because of this, Elizabeth has built a very strong character in assuming the responsibilities as both a mother and a father to both her children.
A clear similarity in both stories is that they feature a ‘strong’ female character. For instance, Elizabeth, though pregnant, would go out in the dark night to look for her husband. She is also shameless as she goes a co-worker’s home to ask of her husband’s whereabouts. She is patient and calm as she waits for the news of her husband. Elizabeth cares towards her children’s feelings as she tries not to worry them about the late return of their father.
The word ‘strong’ is repeated throughout ‘The Chrysanthemums.’ This suggests that Elisa is positive about her strengths. For example, her question and opinion about sleeping in the wagon is that a woman can easily adapt to it. She is a well-disciplined woman who struggles for identity and resolves doing things men do. She even wears men’s clothes to represent her own sexuality. Elisa’s life has been ‘fenced into the garden’ and is sheltered from the society.
‘The Chrysanthemums’ and ‘Odour of Chrysanthemums’ share a few common themes in maternal instincts, the position of women in the society and their freedom. Elizabeth is a protector towards her children. She does everything for her children’s benefit whereas Elisa is like a mother to her chrysanthemums. She is very dedicated to the flowers as it is unbearable for her to see that her chrysanthemums were not being appreciated. The position of women in the society is deprived. Elisa could never dream of having a life full of freedom like the tinker and Elizabeth was expected to stay at home and wait for her husband’s return. This reflects their lack of freedom.
The time-span of both stores is the same. The events take place over one day and as a conclusion, both stories have a final resolution at the end of the day. In ‘The Chrysanthemums’, Elisa reveals her weaker side by ‘crying weakly – like an old woman.’ She has to settle for wine as it has become evident that she will always be trapped in her garden; the wine is as good as it gets for her. Elisa also learns through the hard way that trust should not be offered to strangers. However, in ‘Odour of Chrysanthemums,’ Elizabeth realises she has never really known Walter and is ashamed to handle him. She experiences fear for she is aware that she has no control over her destiny and that she cannot escape death.
Both stories do not have a happy ending, but instead deal with different aspects of life. ‘The Chrysanthemums’ with society and trust, whereas ‘Odour of Chrysanthemums’ with fate and death. I feel that John Steinbeck offers a better ending because it teaches us not to trust strangers with ease and gives us the message that we should be happy with what we have, not to envy others. Then again, the ending in ‘Odour of chrysanthemums’ is also true but I feel that it is too harsh. It is a fact that every creature will encounter death but death should not be Elizabeth’s or anyone’s ‘ultimate master.’
