Characters in "The Chrysanthemums," by John Steinbeck play a very large role in bringing the theme of the story to light. Steinbeck uses these characters to show how women were oppressed in the early twentieth century. There are only three main characters in the story. Each one has his or her different personalities and giving us different views of how society see women. The Tinker or unnamed man, Henry Allen, and of course Elisa Allen the main character will show the true theme of this story that society's oppression of women leads to unhappiness and showing us a glimpse into what it may have been like in 1938. .
The Tinker, a big stubble bearded man, rides a wagon down the dirt farm road to Elisa's house. Elisa and he have some small talk about the dogs. He proceeds to try and sell Elisa on some of his work, sharpening scissors and fixing pots and pans. She doesn't seem to want to have anything to do with him until he asks about the flowers that she is working on. Like a good salesman or conman, as said by Edward Fiorelli "the deceitful cunning of a tinker" (Fiorelli), he keeps at it. She takes a one eighty in the way she has been acting. She ends up giving him some of the flowers and some work. She tells him, "'You might be surprised to have a rival.'" (Steinbeck 586). Susan Shillinglaw supports this saying, "[Elisa] longs for the freedom to roam as a tinker." (Shillinglaw 47). He shoots down her small dream, saying "'It would be a lonely and scary life.'"(587), showing that women should be at home not out on trips fixing stuff. The Tinker is representing society's oppression denying women freedom.
Henry Allen, Elisa's husband, is a nice polite fellow. He is hard working and speaks to Elisa with respect. He is however a little condescending to her as he says "'I wish you'd work out in the orchard'" (Steinbeck 582). Knowing she couldn't work the orchards with the other men, it seems a bit condescending.
