"The Chrysanthemums"

On the surface “The Chrysanthemums” seems to be a rather odd tale. The ending, without a doubt, is quite strange. Yet, after having the class discussion, I think there really is an underlying story somewhere in “The Chrysanthemums.”
The real message for me is one of a woman who is not content with her position in life. She is the wife of a rancher and her husband seems to be nice enough. He encourages her and compliments her abilities as a gardener saying, “’you’ve got a gift with things’” (Steinbeck 633). He seems to want to make her happy when he suggests a night out.
I think we see her lack of contentment when a traveling repairman seems to get under her skin. After having heard of his nomadic lifestyle, our protagonist says, “’I wish women could do such things’” (Steinbeck 637). The repairman tells her that “’it ain’t the right kind of a life for a woman’” (Steinbeck 637) and she is obviously not pleased “her upper lip raised a little, showing her teeth” (Steinbeck 637).
Later, when she gets into a little tiff with Henry, Elisa tells him (really, it seems, she’s more telling herself), “’I’m strong…I never knew before how strong” (Steinbeck 638). Here she shows her insecurity and tries to reaffirm, in her own mind, that she has self worth.