The Chrysanthemums Isolation Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)

Quote #7

The sound of her whisper startled her. She shook herself free and looked around to see whether anyone had been listening. Only the dogs had heard. (92)

Once again, Elisa finds herself alone, and once again, the narrator associates her with dogs (geez, can the girl catch a break?). Here, as in other places in the story, Elisa has something profound to say. But unlike other places in the story, where men struggle to understand her, in this case, there's simply no one listening at all.

Quote #8

She looked toward the river road where the willow-line was still yellow with frosted leaves so that under the high grey fog, they seemed a thin band of sunshine. She sat unmoving for a long time. Her eyes blinked rarely. (98)

Elisa sits alone on the porch, waiting for her husband to get ready for town, and the reader realizes she hasn't actually seen him since he left to round up some cattle. Henry hasn't seen her transformation from a dowdily dressed gardener to a beautiful woman. This creates a tiny moment of suspense: what will Henry's reaction to her appearance be?

Quote #9

She tried not to look as they passed [the chrysanthemums in the road], but her eyes would not obey. She whispered to herself sadly, "He might have thrown them off the road. That wouldn't have been much trouble." (109)

Elisa's headed to town for a fun night out with her husband. She should be in good spirits, and excited to spend some time with her husband, right? Instead, this is one of the loneliest moments in the story. Although she sits less than a foot away from her husband, he has no idea what's happening in her head and heart.