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Depiction of women in american literature
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In Steinbeck’s short story The Chrysanthemums Elisa, the main character, undergoes several stages of transformation. She begins the story as, what appears to be, a hard women that has been tempered by her years of work and toil on the ranch that she shares with her husband. Still with all of the outward appearance of strength, Elisa has a softness at her core that is symbolized by her prized chrysanthemums. Each stage of her transformation brings us closer to her true form. In the beginning paragraphs Elisa is described by Steinbach as having a face that is lean and strong, with eyes clear as water. In addition to the strong face she displays a blocked and heavy figure, wearing a man’s hat and a heavy corduroy apron that covers her dress almost …show more content…
At first Elisa maintains her concealment of being hard, but the hawker persists until he is able to find the way to soften her demeanor. He begins to comment on her chrysanthemums. This is the next major phase of Elisa’s transformation. She becomes excited at the fact of someone taking interest in her flowers. It is clearly evident that Elisa relates a portion of her own self-worth to these flowers that she works so hard to perfect, and she is very proud of them. It is during this conversation that she tears the old man’s hat off of her head and shakes out her long hair adding the physical transformation of …show more content…
She turns her head as they pass in an attempt to avoid seeing them directly. Elisa is obviously disturbed by the wonton discard of her prize possessions, which she has worked so hard to cultivate. Shortly after she spots the repairman’s wagon ahead of them on the road. This time she looks away ensuring that she does not make visual contact with the wagons occupant. Now Elisa is becoming distraught and her mood changes. Henry notices the change, but he is unaware of the earlier interactions of his wife and the tinker. Elisa asks if they can have wine with dinner in an attempt to make herself feel better. Elisa asks her husband about the fights that he had made mention of in the beginning of the story. She does this in the attempt to regain her smokescreen of being strong and hard. Henry answers her questions and tells her that he will take her if she really wants to go. She declines by telling him the wine will be enough as she begins to cry, due to the perceived slight at the hands of the repairman, with her head turned away so that Henry cannot witness her
In the short story “The Chrysanthemums” John Steinbeck uses symbolism to reflect the characteristics of his main character Elisa Allen. Elisa, a married woman uncovers her deeply smothered femininity in an inconspicuous sense. Her life in the valley had become limited to housewife duties and the only sustenance that seemed to exist could merely be found in her chrysanthemum garden. Not until she becomes encountered with a remote tinker-man out and about seeking for work, does she begin to reach many of the internal emotions that had long inhibited her femininity. The tinker subtlety engages an interest in Elisa’s chrysanthemum garden that encourages Elisa to react radically. When Elisa realizes that there are other ways to live she attempts to lift the lid off of the Salinas Valley, but unfortunately the tinker’s insincere actions resort Elisa back to her old self and leaves Elisa without any optimism for her hollow breakthrough. Steinbeck’s somber details of the setting, strong description of the chrysanthemums and meaningful illustration of the red flower-pot reveal the distant, natural, ambitions Elisa Allen desired to attain.
Chrysanthemums She was wearing “a man’s black hat.clod-hopper shoes, heavy leather gloves” and “a big corduroy apron” doing her best to cover up her femininity. In John Steinbeck’s short story, “The Chrysanthemums”, we are introduced to Elisa Allen. Elisa is living during a period after the Great Depression when women’s rights issues became a topic of public concern. Steinbeck uses the character Elisa Allen to portray the women’s struggle for equality. She is a woman deprived of social, personal and sexual fulfillment in a male-dominated world.
This frustration is evident when Elisa is first introduced. Her figure is described as "blocked and heavy" because she is wearing heavy gloves, heavy shoes, a "man's black hat," and a big apron that hides her printed dress (Steinbeck 330). Her home has the masculine qualities of being "hard-swept" and hard-polished" (Steinbeck 330). Elisa is bored with her husband and with her life (McMahan 455). Obviously, Elisa is unhappy with the traditional female role and is attempti...
Elisa Allen, in the short story “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck, is first introduced as a wife to her husband, working in her garden. However, her role in the work is significant and major. Through descriptive, third person narration it is known that Elisa undergoes change physically, mentally and emotionally in the story, and not only once. She starts with a dull, masculine, unappreciated sense and moves to a feminine, eager, happy, and strong attitude. Although Elisa’s transformation is positive, it is ultimately reversed in the end. Elisa’s shift is inspired from the interactions with and actions of the tinker. The conversion in Elisa is shown clearly and directly through her behavior and her husband, Henry’s dialogue and response.
The character Elisa in John Steinbeck’s short story “The Chrysanthemums” is a woman who is unsatisfied with her life as a farmer’s wife. She feels that she is capable of doing more with her life than planting flowers and being a typical housewife. When talking to the man in the wagon Elisa states, “It must be nice, she said. It must be very nice. I wish women could do such things” (586). The idea of being able to live on the road and travel wherever she wants causes her to ache for another life. Since she is a woman it is not socially acceptable for her to live life that way, in which she is saddened that men are given more possibilities. Before the man in the wagon leaves, Elisa says, “You might be surprised to have a rival some time. I can
Elisa's efforts to dress up and make herself attractive are misplaced on him, as are her determinations to get him to value the astonishing exquisiteness of her cherished chrysanthemums, the demonstration of her appealing sense. Elisa's passion to share this vital portion of her temperament is such that, when the tinker seems to recognize her enthusiasm for her flowers, she responds with an exhilaration that approaches the magnificent. Miserably, when she learns that he has tossed out the chrysanthemum she handed him casually on the road, she grasps that his concern was false, and is left more solitary and discouraged than before. The stranger gives Elisa a uplift of assurance that was not in her before. She took off the clothes that made her manly; she washes and wears “her newest underclothing and her nicest stockings and the dress which was the symbol of her prettiness. She worked carefully on her hair, penciled her eyebrows and rouged her lips. (Steinbeck 1145). She obviously wishes to awaken the male scrutiny in her husband but he neglects to see her for her
John Steinbeck’s short story, “The Chrysanthemums,” is an illustration of a married woman’s frustration with the limitations imposed upon her by society. As Steinbeck’s character, Elisa Allen, tends her garden and interacts with the male characters in the story her annoyance and emotions from living in a male dominated world are revealed. Throughout the story Steinbeck relays the main characters feelings of isolation, dissatisfaction and oppression by her environment.
John Steinbeck is among one of the greatest fictional writers of all time. His imaginative but realistic writing style fuses humor and social perception to develop more meaning to his stories. To achieve this he uses a lot of vivid imagery and lots of symbolism within his writings. An extraordinary example of this is found in one of his short stories - “The Chrysanthemums.” Just about everything within the story symbolizes something within the main character’s, Elisa, life as well as serves as a symbol for the views society and the individuals that make up that said society. In this short story he uses symbolism to help express Elisa’s strong desire to become a mother and raise children as well as a symbol for herself and her femininity.
In John Steinbeck’s story, “The Chrysanthemums,” isolation is a major theme portrayed, and Elisa, the wife who loves her chrysanthemums to no end, can be described in many different ways that reflect this. Elisa is confined to the roles of women that society holds as standard, and only finds release from her gardening, causing her to not be very open or outgoing around her husband, Henry Allen. The initial dialogue presented between Henry and Elisa sets the tone for their unrefined talk, and shows the couple's internal problems. In the beginning of the story, we learn that Elisa's skills as a gardener denies Henry the slightest opportunity for anger or protest. These actions in the short story lead the readers to believe that Elisa is very
Analysis of the Short Story "The Chrysanthemum" by John Steinbeck. In John Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums,” he introduces symbolism and uses it to imitate the characteristics of the protagonist, Elisa Allen. Elisa is a married woman who is restricted from uncovering her true identity. Her life revolves around the notion of being a doting housewife and the only support she receives exists in her Chrysanthemum garden.
"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 a man's life. Through symbolism in "The Chrysanthemums," John Steinbeck creates a sexually repressed and discouraged Elisa Allen who is isolated from society however still retaining their values and is also trapped in a fruitless marriage.
The Chrysanthemum by John Steinbeck is a tale of sexual frustration and loneliness. Based off Elisa masculine attire, her surrounding’s and lust for an intimacy relationship. She is presented in this story as a weak character that focuses on her garden and has a tough relationship with her husband. Elisa’s clothing and garden portrays herself imposed walls preventing her from actually seeing what it’s like on the outside. She has isolated herself from her world so she does not have to be vulnerable to its experiences.
The author, John Steinbeck, uses many methods in his story, “The Chrysanthemums” to develop the character of Elisa. He specifically uses the setting as his main source for development. In the beginning the story it opens up by describing when and where the story takes place, which is in December, in the garden of Henry Allen’s farm. Steinbeck writes in his story, “On every side it sat like a lid on the mountains and made of the great valley a closed pot.” This reveals that someone or something is enclosed. Might as well feel trapped in whats seems to be a closed pot. Us as readers know this is referring to the main character, Elisa. When revealing characteristics about Elisa, the story continues, “Across the river, on Henry Allen's foothill ranch there was little work to be done, for the hay was cut and stored and the orchards were plowed up to receive the rain deeply when it should come.” Having little work to be done, we know that a character takes good care of the farm, and has the ability to keep things tidy, like the hay that was perfectly cut.
The role of women in this society was always undefined in the past. The continuous efforts by governments and other bodies are played a vital role that there is gender equality among people at the workplace and the society. John Steinbeck, the author of “The Chrysanthemums” uses Elisa as the main character to show how women were limited into doing different activities in the society. The role of housewife was the only significant job for them. The story highlights how Elisa always wanted more from her life then living I her husband’s shadow.
Feminism in John Steinbeck’s The Chrysanthemums. At first glance, John Steinbeck’s "The Chrysanthemums" seems to be a story about a woman whose niche is in the garden. Upon deeper inspection, the story has strong notes of feminism in the central character, Elisa Allen. Elisa’s actions and feelings reflect her struggle as a woman trying and failing to emasculate herself in a male-dominated society.