John Steinbeck is one of the most successful prize winning writers in the twentieth century. He has become a household name as his works of literature are still popular to this day. He has a "skill with which the themes, symbols and moral vision are expressed... and ensure his place with the best writers of his generation" (McCarthy 392). A few of his stories, such as "The Chrysanthemums" examines the "psychology and sexuality of strong women who must somehow express themselves meaningfully within the narrow possibilities open to women in a man's world." (Mitchell 517). Self-identity is an important focal point for the main character, Elisa Allen. She must endure the pain of hiding who she really is, "brilliantly exposing mankind's 'grievous faults and failures' while reminding us of our forgotten commitments and dreams" (McCarthy 392).
The setting of a story is important to induce a sense of feeling for the reader. The story takes place in Salinas Valley, California. The atmosphere of Salinas is described as "the fog of winter...sat like a lid on the mountains and made of the great valley a great closed pot" with "pale cold sunshine" (Steinbeck 180). We get an imagery of a very dark, damp, isolated place. A gloomy disposition is instantly created through the use of the author's somber tone aswell. This place seems to be one of hopelessness and sorrow. This is foreshadowing of Elisa Allen's, denouement. We can see the distance between Elisa and her husband Henry. While she is working on her gardening, he is far away. As he suddenly arrives by her side, she is taken aback as she "started at the sound of her husband's voice. He had come near quietly" (Steinbeck 181). We can infer that they have a lack of communication and pleas...
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... proposes no solution for the psychological conflicts which plague human interactions. There will always be predators and victims in life which is comprimised of mere plateus of contentment between joy and despair (Mitchell 516).
She will always be a female at the root no matter how strong it appears otherwise.
Despite the constant battles between strength and weakenss, which leave us only in heartache, hiding our identity is the most difficult. At our most vulnerable moments, we are at a loss of self control to refrain from exposing it all. This susceptible time is where our identity radiates the most. Acceptance of ourselves is the pivotal importance to having a garden filled with joy. Nurturing our own heart's garden is the only way to having flourished chrysanthemums. Too much of sunshine burns, and too much of water only drowns our heart.
While Boyle describes Mrs. Ames as elegant, gentle, and quiet, Steinbeck gives to Elisa more strength. Her face was “lean and strong”, and her figure looked “blocked and heavy in her gardening costume”. Both women find their own ways to cover lack of happiness in their everyday lives. The astronomer’s wife is managing the house finding the silliest things to keep her busy: “…from the removal of the spot left there from dinner on the astronomer’s vest to the severe trashing of the mayonnaise for lunch”. Elisa spends her days in garden raising chrysanthemums “bigger than anybody around here.” The fact that these two women did not have any children can mislead us to the conclusion that they were both trying to satisfy the instincts they were probably having at the age of thirty-five. While this is the case with Elisa, the astronomer’s wife had different problem: the lack of communication with her husband and incapability to understand the world he was in.
“Elisa stood in front of the wire fence watching the slow progress of the caravan. Her shoulders were straight, her head thrown back, her eyes half-closed, so that the scene came vaguely into them. Her lips moved silently, forming the words 'Good-bye—Good-bye.' Then she whisprered: 'That's a bright direction. There's a glowing there.'” (American Short Stories 321) John Steinback's story, The Chrysanthemums centers around a young woman named Elisa Allen and the struggle she faces with her individuality. The uniqueness of Steinback's story can be accreditted to his use of symbolism throughout his writing to create and prove the central theme of equality within genders. An analysis of the characterization, setting and theme of The Chrysanthemums, as well as John Steinback's internal experiences support his modernist veiwpoint.
Within Steinbeck's story, "Chrysanthemums," the main character, Elisa Allen, is confronted with many instances of conflict. Steinbeck uses chrysanthemums to symbolize this conflict and Elisa's self-worth. By examining these points of conflict and the symbolism presented by the chrysanthemums, the meaning of the story can be better determined.
Renner, Stanley. “The Real Woman Inside the Fence in ‘The Chrysanthemums’.” Modern Fiction Studies. Vol. 31. No.2. (Summer 1985). 305-317. print; reprinted in Short Story Criticisms. Vol.37. eds. Anja Barnard and Anna Sheets Nesbitt (Farmington Hills: The Gale Group, 2000). 333-339. print.
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.
Initially, John Steinbeck’s short story, “The Chrysanthemums” illustrates the internal conflict a sorrowful housewife faces. The day-to-day life of character, Elisa, seems like a boring one and Steinbeck attempts to remind the reader to not give into temptation and cherish loved ones. During the dialogue, Elisa’s husband, Henry, offers an idea to go out to dinner and the less than enthusiastic response of, “I’ll have plenty of time to transplant some of these sets” (Steinbeck 435) proves that Elisa cares more about her garden than spending time with her husband. Rather than make an effort to bond with her spouse, she appears to be reluctant when asked to go out and enjoy a simple night on the town. Additionally, the failure of a connection between the couple gives the Tinker an opening to make an impact on Elisa’s mental state. Once the Tinker gives her the least bit of attention, Elisa’s entire demeanor starts to change. When Elisa is first described to us, she is unwomanly: “her figure looked blocked and heavy, and she wore a “man’s black hat pulled low down over her eyes” (Steinbeck 438). Although, she is not portrayed as a strong symbol of femininity, the Tinker has spiked an interest in her taboo ways. In the web article “Symbolism in ‘The Chrysanthemums’,” Elizabeth Kassim classifies the tinker as the “catalyst in Elisa’s life”(http://www.lonestar.edu). The admiration of the flowers leads the tinker to admire Elisa. Her sexuality is defined by the chrysanthemums and she “tears off the battered hat and shakes out her dark pretty hair” (Steinbeck 441). With a few kind and well-placed remarks by the Tinker, Elisa thinks there could be a new beginning all aspects of her life. Elisa’s marriage and the way she feels about herself ...
Elisa Allen is a thirty-five-year-old woman who lives on a ranch in the Salinas Valley with her husband Henry. She is "lean and strong," and wears shapeless, functional clothes (Steinbeck 203). The couple has no children, no pets, no near neighbors, and Henry is busy doing chores on the ranch throughout the day. Elisa fills her hours by vigorously cleaning the ''hard-swept looking little house, with hard-polished windows,'' and by tending her flower garden (204). She has ''a gift'' for growing things, especially her chrysanthemums, and she is proud of it (204).
In the short stories "Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin and "The Chrysanthemums" by John Steinbeck the writers convey the importance of freedom by looking at women 's lives and their role in society. Both Chopin and Steinbeck use characters Louise and Elisa, to illustrate the different roles of gender and demonstrate their oppression after marriage. Although both short stories use evidence to support their freedom which is given for a limited amount of time to both women yet, differentiates later on by their reactions from it being taken away.
Every great writer creates powerful images and presents story lines that draw their readers deep into the pages of their books, however; any writer would be hard pressed to do so without incorporating their own feelings, trials and tribulations into the plots and John Steinbeck is no exception. Through his appreciation for adventure and willingness to indulge in it, Steinbeck found a myriad of fascinating people in addition to experiences that he was eager to share. Past various negative criticisms and frequent rejections of his work, he manages to provide relatable characters capable of deep connections to those who enter into the realms of his tales. John Steinbeck's early life experiences influenced his portrayals of women, his love of the land, and his intimate connection to the plight of lower social classes, themes which translate into his work.
The Salinas Valley is symbolic to Elisa’s inner feelings. The farm responsibilities Elisa shared with her husband Henry encouraged “cold and tender” thoughts that often left Elisa feeling “closed off from the rest of the world” (paragraph 1). Her consistent lonely and empty days began to “fog” the belief of any better days to come. The [quiet of waiting] was yearning for any “sharp and positive” (paragraph 2) notion that had yet to be nurtured. But until Elisa was given any chance to set free of such desires she had to remain forcibly content inside of her chrysanthemum garden.
In the whole of the novella, Steinbeck uses a great deal of imagery in his writing, Therefore, helping us to understand the settings of the novel in much more detail. Within the first page of the book, Steinbeck uses a great deal of words and phrases that contribute to the recurring theme of loneliness. The name of the town in which he bases the entire novel is ‘Soledad’ which means ‘Lonely’ In Spanish. This is a key part of the novel, as it means the whole book’s surroundings, (no matter where it is), is based around that one meaning of ‘Loneliness’. Further on, in the first page Steinbeck describes to the reader the surroundings of the town, he uses a range of detailed vocabulary to emphasise the towns’ Isolation and Loneliness.
"The Chrysanthemums" is a good depiction of most marriages in the early 1900's, the husband is the chief breadwinner and the wife is considered nothing more than a housewife. "The simple story outlines are enriched by irony and imagery which contrast the rich land and the sterile marriage, the fertile plants and Elisa's inner emptiness" (McCarthy 26). The story begins by introducing the setting: "The high grey-flannel fog of winter closed off the Salinas Valley from the sky and the rest of the world" (Steinbeck 115). This vivid illustration unconsciously gives the reader a look into the dominating theme. However, it is not until the climax of the story that the reader begins to notice Elisa's true pain and need for her own self-identity. The main protagonist i...
Renner, Stanley. "The Real Woman Inside The Fence In 'The Chrysanthemums.'" Modern Fiction Studies 31 (1985): 305-17.
The story takes place in a city in the year of 2053 A.D. Cities are imagined to be busy and energetic at night but in this city it is portrayed as deserted and noiseless as the author wrote ¨To enter that silence that was the city at eight o'clock of a misty evening in November...¨ Author Ray Bradbury goes on to explain the setting in several different parts of the story like that the ¨cement was vanishing under flowers of grass¨ or the ¨...cottages and homes with their dark windows...¨ to give an image to each reader. The setting can create a mood or an atmosphere- a subtle emotional overtone that can strongly affect our feelings. An example would be “On a dark, cold night in November 2053, the pedestrian - Leonard Mead- walks alone through the city. The streets and freeways are deserted. Dark tomblike homes line the streets.” Bradbury uses mood and details to explain how dehumanization and technology ruined the society that the character Mr. Mead was
The traditional role of women in the American society has transformed as society has trended towards sexual equality. In the past women were expected to be submissive to the man and were looked upon as homemakers rather then providers. Modern day women enjoy the freedom of individuality and are considered as capable as men in many regards. John Steinbeck’s short story, “The Chrysanthemums,” portrays a woman’s struggle with accepting her life and role as a female (459). Through the protagonist-female character, Elisa Allen, and the symbolism of chrysanthemums, Steinbeck displays the gender roles that define past generations of women’s lives in the United States.