“Chrysanthemums and The Girls in their Summer Dresses”

Chrysanthemums:
-I think the pot fixer throws away the flowers after he leaves because he had no intention of ever giving them to anyone. I think he was a salesman who saw Elisa’s passion for chrysanthemums and used them as a tool to make a sale for himself. He made Elisa comfortable with him by asking her about her own interests and then played up his upset emotions after he had her trust. When Elisa saw the man upset she decided to give him pans to fix even though she knew how to do the work herself just to please him. The salesman character is not trustworthy in this story. He is using Elisa’s interests and exaggerating his own emotions to make a sale. All he is interested in is making money.

The Girls in their Summer Dresses:
-I think that Frances is a dynamic character who is fed up with her husband’s actions. I think she knows the truth about her husband’s intentions but continues to push the subject to make him admit it. She refers to their relationship as being good when they are alone but when they are around other people they never truly connect. I think the only time Frances feels fully appreciated is when she is in bed with Michael. Whenever they are out in public Michael can’t help but look at other women which causes Frances to be insecure and upset. Frances feels that Michael’s looks of passion should be saved for her only, and Michael’s visions will eventually lead him astray. During this story, I most sympathize with Frances. She just wants to be respected and given the attention she deserves as a wife. Michael seems to make no apologies for him actions and even alludes to himself eventually wanting to be free from her to pursue other women. I think Michael comes off as extremely arrogant and unsympathetic. If he doesn’t want to be with Frances he should do something about it.