The Chrysanthemums Essay

When her husband Henry had commented about her strong chrysanthemum crop, Elisa is pleased by the manliness the word implies but her husband reminds her of her femininity by offering her an evening on the town to celebrate the big business deal he had done. After this conversation with her husband, she goes back to her masculine role of transplanting the flowers. Loneliness takes a role from the start on how Elisa is lonely just for the simple fact that she 's a woman trapped in a world of men. Steinbeck displays loneliness with "The high grey-flannel fog of winter closed off the Salinas Valley from the sky and from all the rest of the world. On every side, it sat like a lid on the mountains and made of the great valley a closed pot (704)." While adding the fact that the men do business and Elisa is settled to attend the house it makes a pretty strong sense of solitude. This is soon coming to a change once a man knows as the tinker disrupts her usual solitude. It is when her isolation is broken that the story truly begins to unfold.

Everything is everything in the world of short stories. Steinbeck's The Chrysanthemums is full of thick rhetoric that raises questions and stirs the mind and imagination. Everything from the title, to the last line needs to be thought about more than once. The story isn't just about a farmer's wife who likes pretty flowers. Not in the least! The Chrysanthemums is a story about how Elisa Allen is forced to a life that she feels is trapping her. The story is set in the early twentieth century and these times don't allow for just any woman to leave her ordinary, socially and politically correct life. Feminism is a large part of the story, and main character Elisa Allen's language, actions, and even the way she is described play a large

There the “family” face the obstacle of achieving their own interpretation of the American Dream of owning their own land to support themselves instead of living day by day, barely scraping by. Steinbeck uses this setting to exemplify the dehumanization of women, African Americans, and the mentally disabled during that era. Steinbeck makes light of the role of women as objects

Elisa Allen is a lonely woman who enjoys growing and nourishing her chrysanthemums. Since her husband is always working the cattle in their farm, she never has enough attention or any kind of affection. The result of this dispassionate marriage leads Steinbeck to describe his main character as follows, "Her face lean and strong…Her figure looked blocked and heavy in her gardening costume, a man's black hat pulled low…clod-hopper shoes…completely covered by a big corduroy apron…" (Page 206-207) This neglect from her busband causes her to turn to her

John Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums”, is a story about a woman struggling with strong inner feelings of loneliness and isolation. Elisa Allen is initially portrayed as a woman who overcompensates and whose tasks are far exceeded by her abilities. She appears content with her life and adores tending to her garden. However, a tinker briefly enters her life and through his power of persuasion and manipulation provides Elisa with hopes of change and excitement. He gives her the much needed attention she is so desperately looking for. As the story continues we learn that these hopes are crushed as we unravel the betrayal the tinker has bestowed upon Elisa. He exploits her and takes advantage of her hunger for company, aspirations, and

John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" shows the true feelings of the main character, Elisa Allen, through the use of setting and her interactions with other characters in the story. By way of vivid descriptions, Elisa's feelings of dissatisfaction over the lack of excitement in her life are portrayed. Her role as a mere housewife and then the subsequent change to feelings of a self-assured woman are clearly seen. These inner feelings are most apparent with the portrayal of Elisa working in the garden with the chrysanthemums, the conversation she has with the man passing through, and finally, when she and her husband are going out to dinner.

Many readers who analyze Steinbeck's short story, "The Chrysanthemums", feel Elisa's flowers represent her repressed sexuality, and her anger and resentment towards men. Some even push the symbolism of the flowers, and Elisa's masculine actions, to suggest she is unable to establish a true relationship between herself and another. Her masculine traits and her chrysanthemums are enough to fulfill her entirely. This essay will discuss an opposing viewpoint. Instead, it will argue that Elisa's chrysanthemums, and her masculine qualities are natural manifestations of a male dominated world. Pertinent examples from "The Chrysanthemums" will be given in an attempt to illustrate that Elisa's character qualities, and gardening skills,

The Impact of Tone and Setting in “The Chrysanthemums” In John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums," the interplay of tone and setting creates an incredibly compelling story, immersing readers in a world filled to the brim with emotional depth and thematic resonance. Through great attention to these literary elements, Steinbeck not only establishes a vivid atmosphere but also delves into the complexities of character and societal critique. The tone and setting of “The Chrysanthemum” heavily contributes to the overall impact and meaning of this narrative. "The Chrysanthemums" unfolds against the backdrop of rural California during the early 20th century, a time characterized by economic hardship, particularly for farmers like the protagonist, Elisa

"The Chrysanthemums", one of John Steinbeck's masterpieces, describes a lonely farmer's wife, Elisa Allen. Elisa Allen's physical appearance is very mannish yet still allows a hint of a feminine side to peek through. John Steinbeck brings symbolism into play to represent Elisa Allen's frustrations and hidden passions. Isolation is another representation through symbolism found in "The Chrysanthemums." Elisa's failing detached marriage is represented through two symbols. The two reoccurring symbols are the chrysanthemums and fences. John Steinbeck draws pity from the reader for Elisa Allen who desperately wishes to experience the passions of a fulfilling marriage and the stimulation of

In the short story “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck a woman named Elisa lives in a male dominate time and seems to be dissatisfied with her life. Elisa and her husband live in the Salinas valley located in California. Elisa spends most of her time working in her chrysanthemums garden. Her husband just struck a good deal and sold a portion of his cattle and wants to take his wife out on a date. As the day goes a man comes to Elisa house asking for directions but he actually had a completely different motive. He was in desperate need of work and didn’t know where his next meal would come from. After there somewhat brief conversation she gives him something to work on and he goes on his way. Her thoughts are not reviled and the short story truly lacks in showing her emotions and discontentment. The story shows how a feminist woman can feel very out of place when it comes to her life and her job.

The short story "The Chrysanthemums" gives insight into the life of its author. John Steinbeck was born on February 27, 1902, in Salinas, California. The locale of the story is of key resemblance to the Salinas in which Steinbeck was born and bread. "Salinas was a typical American small town, [differing] only in location and a few distinctive features" (McCarthy 3). The protagonist of this story, Elisa Allen, also resembles Steinbeck's first wife. "Steinbeck probably based the character of Elisa Allen on his own first wife, Carol Henning Steinbeck. Like Elisa, Carol was a woman of considerable talent and energy who wore 'masculine clothes' and was 'strong, large-boned' and 'handsome rather than

In this book, Steinbeck shows what it means to be a man in a world of challenges and trials of life. Steinbeck touches on a key elements such as dreams, loneliness, disposition of cruelty, and the economic issues they face. The whole book is mainly touched on the dreams

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

In “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck it surrounds a woman named Elisa. Elisa’s marriage dynamic proves to be complicated as the banter between her and her husband Henry demonstrates the inability to communicate. Isolation leaves Elisa not satisfied in her life and marriage. Therefore, the loneliness Elisa looks for comfort when a tinker shows up looking for work and cons her. The tinker appealed to Elisa making her feel less alone than she usually does and even shows interest in her beloved flowers. By the tinker using Elisa’s interests, her loneliness subsides as she then craves the attention he gives. In “The Chrysanthemum” Steinbeck shows a theme of isolation throughout the story as Elisa is isolated from society, isolated from her own feelings, and even in her marriage.

The short story “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck tells the story of Elisa Allen, a woman living with her husband in the Salinas Valley. Elisa is unsatisfied with her role as a rancher’s wife and would like to gain more independence and importance, yet she lives in a time when women were generally not as independent as men. The singular effect of entrapment is present throughout aspects of Elisa’s life from her personal identity, to her relationship with her husband, to her interactions with the pot mender. When the travelling pot mender arrives and speaks of his lifestyle, Elisa’s desire to see and do more in life is stirred. In the end he discards Elisa’s importance, which leaves her feeling dejected. Ultimately, she becomes defeated in her pursuit for a more meaningful existence. In “The Chrysanthemums,” author John Steinbeck represents the theme of gender inequality through the development of Elisa’s primary dilemma of a lack of purpose and importance in a society that did not see men and women as equals.