In "The Chrysanthemums," Elisa is a woman who is unhappy with her life. However, this unhappiness is not obvious, and it is likely that even Elisa is not sure of what this dissatisfaction is. However, as readers, we can see that Elisa feels trapped in a conventional life with no excitement. She does not feel passionate love for her husband. Similarly, her husband does not feel much love for her, and he is happy to see her reduced to a role that does not fulfill her.
When the travelling repairman arrives, the theme of risk is enhanced. We can see that Elisa feels that her life needs more passion and adventure, and this can be found in the repairman. She acts in a way that is risky for a married woman, but he seems to reciprocate. This feeling of risk brings hope to Elisa and to the reader, However, towards the end we see that Elisa's situation remains unchanged.