I have never really enjoyed reflecting or analyzing a piece of writing. Especially one that's main theme revolves around the limitations of a married woman in the mid 1900's. Maybe I enjoyed this short story because I have a secret feminine side, or maybe I liked it because the themes and motifs are easy enough to spot that someone as bad at analyzing literature, like myself, could find them. I guess we are about to find out.
When I start talking to friends and family about a particular subject that I'm interested in I get very excited and in to the story. I want to show everyone my passion for the subject and hopefully convince them to feel the same way or to look engaged. However, this rarely happens. I can often tell that I'm losing my audience 15 seconds into a conversation if they are not interested in the same subject. I become enraged and a little embarrased and can definitely understand why Elisa felt so betrayed towards the end of the story. Elisa loved gardening because it was her area of expertise. A man had come into her garden acting like he was interested in her crysanthemums for thirty minutes or so and Elisa had been able to show him what she was passionate about and he had not cared at all. When you couple these emotions with the gender limitations I had mentioned earlier, tears are sure to come.
Even though I am a boy I can definitely still relate to the emotions of Elisa in this story. I don't think I've ever met someone, girl or boy, who has been rejected when trying to show all of themselves or put everything out on the table, and not been upset about it. Even though Elisa is a middle aged woman, I think that this story can be interpreted as a "coming of age" story. It becomes very apparent at the end of narrative that Elisa realizes that she will probably live her same old unfulfilling life for the remainder of her years on this earth. Before, she atleast had hope that one day she could do great things and get out of this type of life that the Salina's Valley represents, but when she sees her seeds on the side of the road all hope escapes her.
This is interesting stuff Ray....
ReplyDeleteI think that what made Elisa so upset is that up until that point she allowed her life to have no real meaning or importance, she realized the only thing that she could show for it was her beautiful flowers. I think that this realization that her life passion has no effect or importance to other people, she is automatically hurt. I agree that the content of this story touches on gender issues and how Elisa views herself and her worth in the eyes of men.