Literary Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Literary Analysis - Essay Example As might be expected from such a summary, the action of the story goes much deeper than the simple activities of a woman tending her favorite plants within the strictly defined space of a cottage garden. Steinbeck’s fluid style and gentle suggestive use of language highlights a deeper meaning to the story, particularly when the reader reaches the final lines in which it is seen that Elisa is â€Å"crying weakly – like an old woman.† With his use of imagery and action, Steinbeck highlights Elisa Allen’s isolation and frustration both within her garden and through her relationships with others such as the tinker and her husband, Henry. Elisa’s garden quickly illustrates the degree to which Elisa herself is isolated from the rest of the world. Elisa, like her flowers, is completely enclosed within the garden space which is marked by a low fence. This fence stands between her and the other characters throughout much of the story. This is symbolic of how she is enclosed and isolated from the rest of the world. This isolation is also emphasized by the setting described: â€Å"The high grey-flannel fog of winter closed off the [valley] from the sky and all the rest of the world.  Ã‚  On every side it sat like a lid on the mountains and made of the great valley a closed pot† (Steinbeck). This setting indicates that even if she were to leave the garden, Elisa would still find herself cut off from the rest of society. Her isolation is also made clear as she watches her husband talk to strangers not far away but is prevented, by custom and expectation, from joining them despite her own curiosity about what they are saying. In a similar way, Steinbeck forces the reader to make a mental link between the chrysanthemums in the garden and Elisa’s tremendous frustration with her life. He does this first by pointing out the manner in which she works with the flowers, â€Å"The chrysanthemum stems seemed too small and easy for her energy†