Question

Read this passage from Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums": The laughter had disappeared from his face and eyes the moment his laughing voice ceased. His eyes were dark, and they were full of the brooding that gets in the eyes of teamsters and of sailors. The calloused hands he rested on the wire fence were cracked, and every crack was a black line. He took off his battered hat. What does this description reveal about the stranger's character?

Answer 1

Answer: He is mysterious and has probably led a hard life.

In this excerpt of "The Chrysanthemums," we learn a little bit about the man. The narrator tells us that he only seemed happy when he was laughing. Whenever he stopped, his eyes were dark and threatening. He looked like a sailor or someone with a similar life. His hands were cracked and his hat was battered. He gives the reader the impression of being a man who has often faced difficult circumstances. He also appears to be mysterious.

Answer 2

He is mysterious and has probably led a hard life.