John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" is a short story about a woman's transformation. "The Chrysanthemums" opens with the protagonist, Elisa Allen working in her garden. Her husband, Henry approaches her to ask her out to dinner and a movie to celebrate the sell of thirty steers. They seem to be a well matched couple, however, their way of talking together is serous and formal. Henry goes back to work and a wanderer who travels up and down the coast repairing pots and sharpening scissors approaches Elisa. Her conversation with this odd man leaves her feeling frustrated and dissatisfied. By the end of the story Elisa is a completely different person than she was before. Elisa experiences an incredible transformation that can be seen through her appearance and speech.
In the beginning of the story Elisa is viewed as a tomboy. She does not have any feminine qualities. Elisa is described as a thirty-five year old woman. She has a lean and strong face with eyes as clear as water. Her figure looks blocked and heavy in her gardening costume. She wore a man's black hat which she pulled down low over her eyes. She also wore clod-hopper shoes, a figured print dress almost completely covered by a big corduroy apron with four big pockets to hold her gardening tools. She wore heavy leather gloves to protect her hands while she worked. While Elisa is gardening she meets a stranger who compliments her flowers in the hopes that this will gain him some work. The stranger asks Elisa if he can have some of her chrysanthemums to take to another one of his customers. Immediately a change takes place in Elisa. She takes off her black hat and shakes out her dark beautiful hair. The big leather gloves that protect and hide her feminine hands are now forgotten. Elisa is starting to lose the things that make her unfeminine.
After the peddler leaves Elisa gets ready to go to town with Henry. She puts on her newest undergarments and the dress that is a symbol of her prettiness.