Initially, John Steinbeck's short story, "The Chrysanthemums", illustrates the internal conflict faced by a sad housewife. Elisa's character's daily life seems boring and Steinbeck tries to remind the reader not to give in to temptation and to cherish those close to them. During the dialogue, Elisa's husband, Henry, proposes an idea to go out to dinner and the unenthusiastic response: "I'll have plenty of time to transplant some of these settings" (Steinbeck 435) proves that Elisa cares more from her garden rather than spending time with her husband. Rather than making an effort to bond with her spouse, she seems reluctant when asked to go out and enjoy a simple night on the town. Additionally, the failure of a connection between the couple gives the Tinker an opportunity to impact Elisa's mental state. Once the handyman pays her even the slightest bit of attention, Elisa's attitude begins to change. When Elisa is first described to us, she is not feminine: “her figure seemed blocked and heavy, and she wore a “black man's hat pulled down over her eyes” (Steinbeck 438). Although not described as a strong symbol of femininity, the Tinkerer has attracted increased interest for her taboo ways. In the web article "Symbolism in 'Chrysanthemums'", Elizabeth Kassim lists the Tinkerer as the "catalyst of Elisa's life" (http://www.lonestar.edu). Admiration of flowers leads the tinkerer to admire Elisa. Her sexuality is defined by chrysanthemums and she “rips off her battered hat and shakes out her pretty black hair” (Steinbeck 441). With a few kind and well-placed remarks from the Tinkerer, Elisa believes there could be a fresh start in all aspects of her life. Elisa's marriage and how she feels about herself...... middle of paper...... Now, because Editha remained naive about matters of war and the loss of her husband , she started to believe again that firing George was the right decision. “If Editha had changed her mind, she would have had to admit that she sent George to die in a war and that she fought for the wrong reasons. Why live with guilt when it is possible to claim that George died for very noble reasons” (Belasco and Johnson 113-24). Editha limits her fault by remaining unconscious and therefore feels innocent of the harm she has inflicted on the people she cares about. The importance of stories is to appreciate life for what it is worth. We have the chance to create something extraordinary and trying to change those around us will affect us for the worst. Acceptance of others as they truly are is what defines a person's character in relation to another..