Select one of the prompts below and follow the directions. Answer in 3–5 paragraphs using complete sentences.
The theme of the mysterious stranger is common in literature. In the traditional form of this theme, a mysterious stranger appears in the life of an individual or community. Often, in a series of dramatic events, the stranger makes a sacrifice through which the life of an individual or community is improved. Choose one of the stories in the unit that features a stranger. Explain how the story fits, or deviates from, the theme of the mysterious stranger
The Chrysanthemums John Steinbeck Audiobook
In John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums," the theme of the mysterious stranger is subtly explored. While there is no actual stranger who appears in the story, the character of the tinker serves as a metaphorical mysterious stranger. The tinker, who comes by Elisa's house selling pots and pans, represents the possibility of change and liberation for Elisa, who feels trapped and unfulfilled in her role as a wife and woman.
However, unlike traditional stories featuring a mysterious stranger, the tinker does not actively make a sacrifice to improve the life of the protagonist or the community. Instead, it is Elisa who makes sacrifices in the hopes of bettering her own life. She gives the tinker her prized chrysanthemums, which symbolize her passion and desires, in the hopes that he will appreciate and understand them. However, this gesture ultimately leads to disappointment for Elisa, as the tinker fails to see the deeper meaning behind the flowers.
While "The Chrysanthemums" deviates from the traditional form of the mysterious stranger theme in terms of the stranger's role, it still embodies the underlying theme of longing for change and transformation. Elisa's encounters with the tinker awaken a desire for something more in her, pushing her to consider stepping out of her comfort zone and exploring her own desires and passions. Ultimately, this exploration of longing and the pursuit of change aligns with the essence of the mysterious stranger theme, even if it does not adhere to the conventional structure of the motif.