Analysis Of The Chrysanthemums In Of Mice And Men By John Steinbeck

In the 1930’s John Steinbeck wrote two stories, The Chrysanthemums and Of Mice and Men. In these stories, Steinbeck highlighted the struggle and oppression of women during that time Both of his writings took place on a ranch in Salinas, California during the 1930’s, during the great depression. Both Elisa from The Chrysanthemums and Curley's wife from Of Mice and Men had internal conflicts and despised their husbands. Steinbeck's women proved to be strong and intelligent, especially compared to the men around them.

The chrysanthemums by john steinbeck describes a hard, energetic, working woman who isn't satisfied with her life. She withholds her inner self because she's afraid of what impressions society may have on her. Although she is in a happy marriage her emotions triggers in due to the failure her husband doesnt shows. One day working in her garden a stranger comes along and elisa changes. The stranger gives her things that was lacking in her marriage. Such as; communication, and affection. She is now comfortable since it is being noticed by someone else who may seem to have interest in her. A metaphor is a word used to represent something such as a symbol without using the word like or as. (Longman 920) In this story there are several metaphors used dealing with strength, passion, sexuality, and embarrassment. Metaphors are important because they help one understand abstract or unfamiliar things. Whenever we can't grasp content our brains function so we can get better sense of it. Often metaphors bring on emotions. Different emotions can be memorable. Also

Elisa’s life is significantly transformed by the arrival of the tinker who comes with hope, which is also symbolized by the flowers. At first, this hope is predicted in the setting of the narrative, although it is subtle. Despite the fact that the valley looks like a closed pot, there are some “sharp and positive yellow; leaves” (Steinbeck 175). These bring about an image of encouragement in the midst of depression. Readers are also able to see, through Elisa’s change of attitude, how she puts her hope in the pot of chrysanthemum that she gives to the stranger. At fist, she is repulsive to the tinker and shows little concern for him and keeps some distance from him. She looks at him “irritably” as her eyes move with “resistance” (Steinbeck 179) when the tinker requests to offer repair services for any of her broken item. However, this resistance changes from her face when he begins to talk about the chrysanthemums. She starts to gain more interest: Her “eyes (brighten) and (become) alert and eager” (Steinbeck 180). In addition, she opens one of the men clothes that she is wearing and makes her heart open to reality. From removing the gloves, to destroying the tattered hat, and shaking her beautiful hair, Elisa seems to be blossoming—like a flower (Steinbeck 179-180).

She grows the Chrysanthemums as an expression of her femininity and womanhood. “As the Chrysanthemums express her feminine side when her husband inhibits her, she must care for them as if they we her. The existence of the flowers mirrors her own. If Elisa were to let them die, either by her own hand, or through neglect of others, she herself would experience death-a death of what she needs, but cannot have in any other way and maintain her marriage. This would create a collapse of her sense of self, and make her into an empty shell of a woman.” (Berry) The Chrysanthemums represent her true inner essence and when she discovers that they man looking to fix her pots left her precious Chrysanthemum shoots on the side of the road, she feels a sense of neglect that is very powerful. She then decides that wine will help her feel some sort of contentment but in that moment she moves from a powerful fertile woman into a bitter old woman through the power of simple neglect. Elisa’s fulfillment came through her flowers, once they were abandoned on the side of the road Elisa felt herself to be trivial and unappreciated and finally came to terms with the way the world viewed her.

This short story was published during the aftermath of the women’s rights movement and during WW2. John Steinbeck cared about the political and societal malpractices and portrayed his views in his writings. This short story belongs in a collection called The Long Valley.

Hi sir I am writing to inform you that I will be unable to attend class tomorrow due to an unexpected family issue I need to take care of. Attached are my annotated notes and response journal for the short story The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck. Sadly, my printer would not let me scan my annotated notes so I an sending them in picture

    In romantic or sexual context, a woman is often said to be as beautiful as a flower. In John Steinbeck's short story "The Chrysanthemums", Elisa Allen never receives this recognition. Although she is a strong woman, she is frustrated because her husband will not admire her romantically in any way. This frustration only deepens because she is childless and feels the need to be a mother. She discovers an outlet for her frustration in a flower garden where she cultivates beautiful chrysanthemums. Steinbeck uses these elegant flowers as a symbol to represent the tender, inner-self of all women, including Elisa.

"The Chrysanthemums" author, John Steinbeck, struggles to equality using Elisa Ellen. "The Chrysanthemums" depicts a capable, a woman who is denied fulfillment socially, sexually, and personal fulfillment through prevailing the woman 's role conception in the men dominated the world. The appearance, speech, and actions of Elisa depict that frustration that women experienced in 1930 's Steinbeck 's masculine world. Thus, this brings the questions: In what ways does Elisa 's character develop and what does this suggests about the story meaning? How do Elisa 's relations with Tinker compare with her relationship with Henry and what does this reveal about the story? How is the story a commentary on gender relations for its time? Therefore, “Steinbeck’s world” is more of a masculine world offers no chance to feminine liberationists. “The Chrysanthemums” show Elisa’s transformation throughout the story and reveal a different side of her that she seems to be more feminine instead of masculine, conversational, frustrated and aware of her self-suggesting women desires in a world dominated by men.

"A symbol is an act, person, thing, or spectacle that stands for something else, by association a usually broader idea in addition to its own literal meaning" (Cassill & Bausch, 1728). John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" may seem as a story describing a simple day with the Allen couple. It begins with Elisa Allen working in her garden and her husband, Henry Allen, negotiating with two suited business men that want to purchase steers. They seem to engage in conversations and go about their day as they normally would do. By the time the story ends, they are on their way to dinner and a movie. At first glance, this story may seem as nothing special, just a day in the life of fairly

First, the chrysanthemums symbolize Elisa’s want for children. Therefore care for her garden and gently handles the chrysanthemums with love, and care. Elisa cares for her chrysanthemums like a mother would her baby; she put protective wiring around them and checks consistently to make sure there aren’t any bugs, snails,

The Chrysanthemums, by John Steinbeck, is a story filled with controversy against the subject of traditional female roles. At the beginning, the protagonist, Elisa Allen, is described in a very masculine manner. In the story Steinbeck describes her as "lean and strong", saying "Her figure looked blocked and heavy in her gardening costume" and describing how she had "a man's black hat pulled low down over her eyes" By this description Steinbeck is pointing out her displeasure with herself. She is purposely presenting herself in a masculine manner because she knows she, as a female, is not going to get the advantages a man has so she tries to hide her femininity. Steinbeck also uses description of her suroundings to furter show the restriction that Elisa feels. Steineck describes her surounding as a "High grey-flannel fog of winter (closing) off the Salinas Valley.. from the rest of the world" this desciption represents how her word of opertunities is closed off due to her gender. Steinbeck is explaining the lack of ability she has to move beyond her borders.

Like a flower, a person’s passion and drive can fuel them to bloom when nurtured; when these interests are neglected, however, they can wilt just as fast. This idea holds true in The Chrysanthemums, as these flowers are used to represent Elisa Allen throughout the course of the story. She raises her own garden of chrysanthemums, her labor yielding flowers “bigger than anybody around here” (Steinbeck 318). White chrysanthemums, often used as an emblem for loyalty, stand proud in her garden in result of her efforts. On the other hand, she also raises yellow chrysanthemums, which can portray neglected love. These two meanings accurately sum up Elisa’s situation, as while she is devoted to Henry and their lives, she is dissatisfied and desires

In The Chrysanthemums, John Steinbeck uses the chrysanthemums Elisa grows as a symbol to represent her sexuality. Chrysanthemums, in particular, have myriad assortments, coming in a wide spectrum of colors and sizes. However, almost all are distinctly known for their drastic difference in appearance after blooming; they change from a tightly-packed cluster of florets to an expansive bundle of vibrant petals. This mirrors Elisa’s sexuality in that she keeps it close and unexposed, but once she chooses to let it free, it is expressive and personifying. Elisa chooses to grow “giant [white] and [yellow]” (Steinbeck 318) chrysanthemums that look like “a quick puff of colored smoke” (Steinbeck 318). The first aspect

The story “chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck is about a lady named Elisa, who lives on a ranch with her spouse. Her husband makes a business deal with some men and sells the cattle. In order to celebrate, he decides to take Elisa out for dinner. As her husband leaves to deliver the cattle, a stranger drives up the road and distinguishes himself as a repairman of sorts. While Elisa is working on her small garden, he asks her if she needs anything to be fixed and she says no. She tries to get rid of him but he starts talking about his travels and the lifestyle. He then asks her about her garden. She gets excited that he is interested in her flowers so she gives him some chrysanthemums to grow. She makes a connection with him due to the lack of passion in the marriage. Eventually he leaves and her husband returns. She gets dressed up and as they head down the road to go to town, she begins crying when she sees the Chrysanthemums that she

As a dark figure, known as the Tinker approaches, Elisa can’t help but become intrigued by the man who took the wrong turn. “"His worn black suit was wrinkled and spotted with grease. The laughter has disappeared from his face and eyes the moment his laughing voice ceased” (Steinbeck 4). Steinbeck's purpose of the Tinker was to capture Elisa’s curiosity and vulnerability. She develops a sense of adventure and mystery from the man, therefore manipulating her with his charming personality and sudden interests of chrysanthemums. As their conversation of these flowers progress, she can’t help but become more attracted to the Tinker. From what the audience can observe, it’s as for once her interests matter to someone. "She tore off the battered hat and shook out her dark pretty hair. "I'll put them in flower pot and you can take them right with you,” (6). Steinbeck’s skill of allegory and foreshadowing is well displayed as he describes Elisa’s urgent necessity to expose her promiscuous personality. It’s as if he's defining a different woman than the one he described at the beginning with "strong" and "blocked" features. For once, Elisa Allen is simply not a housewife - she can’t even recognize herself. She is experiencing an identity crisis for the question, “Who am I?” is a challenge. She even questions herself on her behavior after the Tinker leaves and she bathes, washing the dirt away from her body at the end of the