Innocence And Temptation In The Chrysanthemums By John Steinbeck

In the short story “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck, the concept of Innocence to Experience and its relation to sin and temptation is shown through Elisa’s character development. Elisa’s environment is a portrayal of innocence and purity that relates to the Garden of Eden, Elisa herself is a strong and pure character, the tinker is a representation of sin and temptation, Elisa experiences temptation but resists and feels guilt, Elisa enters into the world of experience but continues to stay pure; One can see that because of her experience Elisa grows into a stronger character.
Elisa’s world is a representation of innocence and purity. Within the story, Elisa’s environment is described as a closed pot to convince the reader that her life is pure: “On every side sat like a lid on the mountains and made of the great valley a closed pot”(1). Elisa’s setting is described as neat,

Once the tinker begins talking about the chrysanthemums Elisa is attentive and friendly again: “Elisa’s eyes grew alert and eager”(4). Elisa then allows the ticker to come into the yard which is a representation of the tinker passing protective barriers and that Elisa is beginning to trust him. Elisa then starts telling him more personal information where her interest in the tinker grows into sexual attraction: “She was kneeling on the ground looking up at him. Her breast swelled passionately”(5). Elisa then reaches for his leg but then she drops her hand showing that Elisa resisted temptation: “Kneeling there, her hand went out toward his legs in the greasy black trousers. Her hesitant fingers almost touched the cloth. Then her hand dropped to the ground”(5). She is then embarrassed by her actions. Later on Elisa feeling guilty scrubbed herself clean until her skin was red: “And then she scrubbed herself with a little block of pumice, legs and thighs, loins and chest and arms, until her skin was