What is a tragedy in literature? The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck is a perfect example of a story that ends in tragedy. Steinbeck uses a young named Elisa and takes the only thing in the world that makes her feel good about herself and he throws it back in her face. An in-depth look into this tragedy would make it clearer for the reader to understand this short story by taking a look into who Elisa is, what she does, and what ultimately happens to the one thing she cares about the most.
             In order to understand this story one must learn who Elisa really is. "She was thirty-five. Her face was lean and strong and her eyes were as clear as water. Her figure looked blocked and heavey in her gardening costume, a man's black hat pulled low down over her eyes, clod-hopper shoes, a figured print dress almost completely covered by a big corduroy apron with four big pockets to hold the snips, the trowel and scratcher, the seeds, and the knife she worked with. She wore heavy leather gloves to protect her hands while she worked"(681). At first look it is almost like Steinbeck is describing a man. She is wearing a man's outfit.
             A look into what Elisa does and is so passionate about doing the reader will begin to understand why Elisa is so devistated at the end of the story. Elisa is extrememly passionate about her crop of yellow chrysanthemums. SHe spends most of her time out in her garden tending to them. that is all she really cares about. Her chrysanthemums are the best and the biggest chrysanthemums in the town. "You've got a gift with things some of those yellow chrysanthemums you had this year were ten inches across. I wish you would work out in the orchard and raise some apples that big"(682). She has a gift for growing things, she is able to turn a seed into a beautiful giant flower. All she cares about are her chrysanthemums, its what makes her happy. She tends her garden and handles the chrysanthemums with ...