"Chrysanthemums" and "The Girls in Their Summer Dresses"

“Chrysanthemums”: When Elisa is crying at the end of the story, she demonstrates that even though she tries to maintain a “strong woman” image, she is only human, and seeing the shoots on the ground does upset her. Between her emotional reaction, and the time she discovers the shoots, she brings up going to see a fight after dinner. I think she does this because she is trying to engage in repairing behavior. She deflected from a comfortable state when she saw that the “repair man” had thrown the shoots out on the ground. In order to regain a sense of being strong, she creates a conversation out of a masculine subject. She then inquires if women participate in such fighting, which exemplifies her need to want to keep poise, and not subject herself to the sensitivity she feels. Thus, she obviously has a conflict with herself in fighting back emotions that are apparent within her (she wants to be perceived as strong, not weak in character). 

“The Girls in Their Summer Dresses”: Upon the first few pages of the story, I am annoyed with Frances’ character. She seems whiney, and insecure. However, as the story progresses, I feel sorry for her. Her husband admits that he wants other women, and that he indulges in looking at all the pretty ones around Fifth Avenue (one of the reasons he moved to NYC). While she instigates his response by not backing away from the subject, she also accepts that he admits he may one day “slip up” from wanting another woman so much. Michael, her husband, is obviously very superficial. I am not impressed with his character. Moreover, the 1930s and 40s reflects a time in which women were more domestic. Thus, divorce or separation do not phase Frances - she is dependent on her husband. In this day and age, this story is stressful because the reader hopes that Frances will redeem herself and leave Michael. However, in the early - mid 1900s, the conflict between Michael and Frances seems more realistic (it is more realistic to think that she would stay with him, than leave him).