Odour of Chrysanthemums
... Lawrence’s “Odour of Chrysanthemums” view the chrysanthemum as a beautiful flower, and cannot understand why their mother apparently despises the flower. ... Lawrence’s “Odour of Chrysanthemums” the chrysanthemum emerges as a powerful symbol that plays on the emotions of each individual character. ... Each character in “Odour of Chrysanthemums” views the flower in a different way. The brown chrysanthemums that Walt comes home with in his buttonholes could symbolize the end of his marriage being near. ... “It was chrysanthemums when I married him, and chrysanthemums when you were born” shows that he would attempt to make up for his failures by buying these flowers. ... Walt’s naiveness does not allow him to realize that buying chrysanthemums for his wife will not make up for the countless nights he is gone to the tavern and the long hours that he works.