The Chrysanthemums Literary Analysis

The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck has been labeled as a feminist story for its commentary on patriarchy and feminine self expression in the time of the story. This story highlights a strong woman’s attempt to break out of the shackles she has lived in for all of her life. The story comments on and symbolizes gender roles, female sexuality and character development.
The Chrysanthemums is shaped by the common gender roles that is present in society. When the main character, Elisa, is first introduced, she isn’t sexualized. She is depicted as “blocked and heavy,” wearing a “man’s black hat pulled low down over her eyes”. While dressing manly and having masculine traits, Elisa gardens, which itself is an extremely feminine trait yet she’s described in a masculine way. It is mentioned in the story that Elisa’s mother was also a gardener which could possible show
She isn’t gentle with flowers, instead using scissors to “destroy the pests.” Elisa also cleans the house from top to bottom, with “hard-polished windows” and a “clean mud mat on the front steps.” Elisa conforms to her feminine obligations but isn’t as feminine and gentle as she is expected to be. Elisa’s husband, Henry, also believes in those feminine roles she’s expected to fulfill. He notes how she has a “gift with things” but it only “works on flowers.” He also ends the conversation and dismisses her when he goes on to speak to some men about business matters. Henry doesn’t think that it’s right for a woman to be involved in business and should only be a housewife. Later on, Elisa asks her husband about the fights in town when driving, and he stops the car, surprised that she read about them. The other main character, the tinkerer, also believes Elisa shouldn’t do things usually reserved for men. When he tells her about how he sleeps in a wagon and constantly travels,