Discuss the main character in "The Chrysanthemums" by John Steinbeck.

John Steinbeck’s artistry encapsulates one day in the life
of a woman who finds herself yearning for more in the story “The Chrysanthemums.”  The
engaging story involves only three characters whose interactions are both hopeful and
hurtful. 

Elisa Allen, the protagonist is a married woman
who loves her husband.  She is intelligent, but unfulfilled in her life.  She wants
excitement and actual intimacy.  Her life is on the farm with her husband Henry, who has
made a comfortable living for both of them.  Her husband is unaware of her
feelings.

On this wintry day, Elisa is working with her
passion: her chrysanthemums.  She is preparing the flowers for winter.  She watches her
husband who is talking with some strangers. 

Her husband
compliments her by saying that she has a gift of growing things.  Elisa labels it
“planter’s hands.” Henry wants Elisa to go with him to the fights but that really is not
“her cup of tea.” He tells her that they will go out tonight and to the movies. She
agrees.  They seem to be a happy couple.

As she works,
Elisa hears a wagon pull up with a strange man.  He is a tinker, who travels around
sharpening knives and fixing pots.  This man is never given a name.  He has learned how
to manipulate women, so they allow him to do some work for them.
 

Elisa tells him that she has nothing for him to do. The
man chats and jokes with Elisa. When he presses for a small job, she becomes annoyed and
tries to send him away.

Suddenly the man’s attention is
caught by the chrysanthemum. When the man takes an interest in her flowers, Elisa’s
attitude changes. The man tells her about one of his customers that always has work for
him.  This other lady also has a garden and wants some chrysanthemum seeds if he ever
comes across any.  The man has done it.  He has manipulated himself into Elisa good
graces.

Now Elisa is captivated. She finds two pots for him
to fix.  While he is working, she prepares a pot of chrysanthemum cuttings for the other
lady’s garden. She also gives the man full instructions for taking care of them.  The
man describes the chrysanthemums: ‘Kind of a long-stemmed flower? Looks like a quick
puff of colored smoke?’ Elisa loves the description.

Even
more important, it is obvious that Elisa envies the man’s life.  He is able to travel
where he wants, and his freedom is unlimited. 

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'I've never lived as you do, but I know what you
mean.  When the night is dark--why the stars are sharp-pointed, and there's quiet.  Hot
and sharp and
--lovely.'

Strangely, she
feels an attraction for the man because he appears to have a love of flowers.  She
almost reaches for his hand with this new emotion welling up inside of her.  Instead,
she pays him fifty cents for fixing the pots, gives him the pot of chrysanthemums, and
sends him on his way.

Elisa goes to the house to ready
herself for the night out with her husband.  She takes special care to look  nice.  Her
husband compliments her and tells her that she looks different: strong and
happy.

As they go down the road toward town, Elisa sees on
the side of the road that the man has tossed out the cuttings of her flowers. This hurts
her tremendously, and this strong woman turns her head and
cries. 

The final dialogue ends with Elisa asking Henry if
women really went fights.  She asks if there really is a lot of
blood.

Yet, they end up going to the restaurant and having
an extra glass of wine.