essarily be scaled down to that limited viewpoint. If he gave her any personal praise, as a woman of distinct qualities - one who was vital to the farm's survival, he might be empowering her. Thus, he keeps his praise for her superficial skills, growing flowers. In this way, Henry frustrates Elisa by seeing less deeply into her true character than her flowers are planted. As noted by McCarthy (1980: 27); however, "the plants and flowers cannot compensate for the lack of understanding and affection from her husband." The flowers represent Elisa trying to find some way of escaping from her frustrated and repressed husband, not from her own sexual frustration.
Since Elisa is a woman with more than superficial qualities, i.e., a woman of warmth, sensitivity and caring, in addition to being a good worker, she seeks a way to fit into this world she feels is limited to her. She feels that it is limited due to its being dominated and interpreted by and for men. Thus, she tries to seek out some understanding from a stranger who is
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