Elisa's sense of beauty causes her to become defenseless against the peddler's beguilement. When the peddler asks about her chrysanthemums, she describes them as being "beautiful,... so beautiful". She then progresses into to telling him of how to care for the flowers and does so very excitedly. This happens again when she starts talking about how it would be so nice to live in a covered wagon, spending the nights under "sharp-pointed stars". Her enthusiasm toward these things uncovers her true sentiment for them. She exposes herself to the stranger and he, in turn, uses the very things that are important to her as a weapon against her. Eliza now becomes helpless and can do nothing to change this. The peddler can now proceed into doing what he wants, manipulating all her actions.
The peddler's deceit and manipulation is a contemptuous offense toward innocent people like Elisa. Right from the beginning, the peddler knew exactly what he wanted from Elisa and would use any means necessary in order to get it. Even if it meant ch
eating and deceiving. He mislead her to believe that he was interested in her chrysanthemums; lying about how he knew a lady that would like to add them to her garden. In doing so, Elisa gave in and the peddler was able to fulfill his mission: repairing a household item to receive a payment for it. How can anyone stoop to such a low level to earn a measly fifty cents? He left her feeling used and didn't even have the decency to be honest with the reasons behind his actions. This emotional damage could adversely affect the way she views others making her less trusting. The peddler deliberately insulted her integrity and should, in some way, be punished for it. Perhaps if the tables were turned and he was the one tricked into doing something he initially didn't want to do, he would be hurt and to realize that his actions toward Elisa were wrong.
Elisa's vulnerability to this type of person engenders a feebleness in her personality. Although at first she seemed cautious about the stranger, she quickly lets her guard down as soo
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