Elisa Allen

Elisa Allen is the main character, a thirty-five-year-old woman residing on a ranch in the Salinas Valley with her husband, Henry. She is slim and robust, typically dressed in practical, shapeless attire. The couple has no children or nearby neighbors, and Henry spends his days occupied with ranch chores. Elisa dedicates her time to meticulously cleaning their "hard-swept looking little house, with hard-polished windows," and cultivating her flower garden. She has "a gift" for nurturing plants, a talent she takes great pride in. Generally, Elisa appears content with her life. However, when a traveling tinker discusses his adventurous lifestyle, she begins to feel the constraints of her own existence and yearns for excitement. The thought of her chrysanthemums being appreciated by a stranger gives her a sense of connection to a broader world. But when the tinker discards the flowers, it becomes evident that her world is confined to the ranch's borders.

Henry Allen

Henry Allen is Elisa's husband, a diligent and prosperous small-scale rancher. At the story's outset, he has just sold thirty steer and wishes to celebrate with Elisa. He proposes an evening in town, including dinner and a movie, and praises her gardening abilities. However, their conversation lacks intimacy; they communicate in a serious and formal manner, and Elisa does not grasp his attempts at humor. As they prepare to leave for town, Henry notices something is troubling Elisa, but he cannot discern what it is, and his words only seem to make things worse. In response to her peculiar mood, he "blunders," feels "bewildered," and speaks "helplessly." Despite his good intentions and desire to make her happy, he is at a loss for what she truly needs.

The man

The man is a tinker who travels annually along the coast with a horse-drawn wagon marked "Pots, pans, knives, scissors, lawn mowers, Fixed." He is a large man with a worn face and hands, dressed in a dirty suit. Relying on his salesmanship to make a living, he excels at engaging in small talk, though his friendly laughter is merely superficial. Initially, Elisa has no work for him and is about to send him away when he notices her chrysanthemums and engages her in conversation about them. Her demeanor shifts immediately; she becomes enthusiastic and finds a task for him. However, when she later discovers her discarded chrysanthemums on the road, Elisa realizes his interest in the flowers was insincere, merely a tactic to gain her favor.