Odour of Chrysanthemums

Comment on setting. How does the author depict the people’s surroundings?

The setting in the story is not very beautiful and splendid, and it as actually the opposite. The town is very lifeless and there is a dangerous amount of damage to the environment. The author depicts the town as one that would not very pleasant to live in. The author wishes for his audience to dislike the town, by his of well sort out use of adjectives. The author wishes for the audience to dislike the train coming through town as he describes it as “clanking, stumbling” by, causing much disturbance to the town. The author describes the goodness of nature as one that is dyeing and has no life left in it. The author writes that the “withered oak leaves dropped noiselessly,” which implies that the nature which is supposed to be beautiful is shrivelled and lifeless. The author describes the fields as “dreary and forsaken,” which doesn’t give a healthy atmosphere to the environment.  The author writes that there were “twiggy apple trees, winter-crack trees and ragged cabbages.”  This reconfirms the fact that the environment is suffering and the food that grows in the area is not receiving the care they deserve, due to the state of the environment. Lastly the Chrysanthemums flowers which are meant to be beautiful and have a lovely smell to them, “hung dishevelled.”  Also, just like the title they brought a dreadful odour to the flowers, and throughout the whole town.

What are the people like in the extract?

How the people in the town act and feel is a direct result of the insufferable nature in which they live in. Their frustrated and disappointed emotions they feel on a day to day basis are caused by the fact that they are not happy with the environment they live in. Their environment is not a blissful one; therefore their lives are not blissful. Firstly, when the writer introduces the reader to the first sign of human life, it is a woman who is startled by the forceful train coming through town. The woman “stood insignificantly trapped between the jolting black wagons and the hedge.” This implies that the woman is feeling very small irrelevant compared to the train. It is almost like the people in the town are unworthy of being shown.

Next, the writer introduces the readers to the minors. He writes the “minors, single, trailing and in groups passed like shadows diverging home.” This statement about the minors says that they are just a mass of identical people. They are not individuals, like the idea in the film called Walkabout. This statement also suggests that because they are so dirty from working a long day in the Brinsley Colliery, they are black, just like the shadows. This highlights the unhappiness of the town to have to work in such a place, and come home in such a gruesome state.

Lastly, and most importantly, the writer gives the reader’s an insight of a family’s life, which appears to be a very a very unhappy and depressing one.  The writer describes the mother’s mouth as “closed with disillusionment.” This is due to the fact that the mother is unhappy about her life due to the environment she lives in. She is unhappy with the fact that she has to raise a son in such an awful environment. She also regrets living in such a place, as she has not only ruined her life, but her sons also. Her son senses her depression, which makes him disappointed and frustrated. He is not happy where he lives, and wishes he could live somewhere else, and be a happy, normal child. The writer states that the boy “advanced slowly, with resentful, taciturn movement.” He resents his other for raising him in such an awful place, and he is unhappy with his life. Lastly, the father of the family works at the mines and is not around his family, and isn’t there to support them through their hardship. He comes home from work all dirty and tired and probably does not feel like doing much with his family which creates a unhappy environment.

What is the overall theme or Message of the extract?

The overall theme to the story is appreciate the environment and place you live in, because there is always someone out there who is worse off than you.  The town the people live in is a very unhappy and lifeless town. There is no sense of belonging or happiness. The writer wants the reader to get a feel of the unhealthy environment, and to appreciate what they have. The relationship between the mother and the son is very bitter and there is not much love between them. This is due to their unhappy environment. The father works long hours in the mines and doesn’t get to see his family much which also adds to the unhappiness of the family. In addition to this the story explores the theme of poverty, and not having enough money to support your family. The boy wears old second hand clothes that “were evidently cut down from a man’s clothes,” as the mother cannot afford to buy him many clothes. This adds to their predicament and causes them to be unhappy and bitter towards each other.

Place this story in its context.  What was happening in the world at this time? (1911)

In the year 1911, when the story was set, there were particular events going on throughout the world that may have added to the lifeless and poor environment of the town. This included the Great Unrest. Around the time of the year 1911, the world’s coal industry was reliant on the Walsh to maintain and produce it. The Great Unrest was a time when workers, especially minors, were being abused. This occurred from the early 1800’s right up until 1911. The minors worked in poor conditions and they had low wages. In addition to this, Liberal leader Lloyd brought in an eight hour work day for minors.

The Great unrest is linked to the story because one of the reasons of the family’s unhappiness is because they do not see their dad and husband enough. He is out working in the mines. Being a minor is a tough job, and requires a lot of energy and strength. When the man comes home from work he probably is tired and grumpy, which causes a bitter environment between the family. In addition to this, the coal in the air may cause pollution, causing plants and flowers to die, making the down lifeless and damaged. This is a direct result of the poor environment of the town, and the unhappiness of the family.

My opinion about the story:

Once again, this wasn’t the best story I have read, but the writing was very capturing and detailed. The writer has put much time and effort into the words chosen to describe the ghastly town so the reader get’s a feel of what the town is like. The reader has sure convinced me that I don’t want to live in a town like that. I really enjoyed reading the adjectives the writer has used to describe certain things. Some words I have never heard of before, but they were very captivating.