Odour of Chrysanthemums is a prose by D. Lawrence, in which two major themes are dealt with. The first being the subservience of women and the second is the impossibility of men and women understanding each other.
Lawrence looks at the life of Elizabeth Bates and illustrates the social gap between her and her husband. Elizabeth is in contrast to her surroundings; she is more educated and sensitive and is a proud woman. The author helps develop our understanding of Elizabeth's personality using a number of different techniques.
We are told from the very beginning of this short story that Elizabeth is too good for the life she lives. On the first page D.H. Lawrence has described the state of the mining village where she lives as being unattractive with phrases such as "the withered oak leaves" and "The fields were dreary and forsaken". The surroundings act as a contrast to the description of Elizabeth, "imperious mien, handsome, with definite black eyebrows". This tells us that Elizabeth is proud, strong and respected by others.
From reading the prose we are made aware of Elizabeth's "disillusionment" with life. It is clear that Elizabeth had a very different up bringing to the life she lives now, which is beneath her. Not only the contrast between Elizabeth and her surroundings tell us this but also the contrast between Elizabeth and her husband. Elizabeth is disappointed with her husband's "indifference to all but himself". Elizabeth's thoughts towards others is rather judgemental, we are introduced to this aspect of her personality on the second page, with "her brief censure" towards her father and his remarriage. Her reaction towards the state of her neighbour's kitchen later in the story also shows this. However we are also introduced to the fact she is sympathetic and polite when she says "Eh, ours is just as bad".
Elizabeth's children also reflect certain aspects of her personality. When describing her son "she saw herself in his silence and pertinacity" this tells us that Elizabeth perseveres and gets on with things, she is determined.
