The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums (1939) is a fascinating piece of cinema, due to it's length (running just over 2 hour) and few amount of shots, 140. This film is considered Myzoguchi's masterpiece and encompasses most of his cinematic techniques and qualities in one film.…
In Into Thin Air by Jon Krakaeur, the author’s word choice of descriptive passages and vivid words help well understand his perspective. You see this whole story is written in perspective Jon Krakauer is a journalist by trade, and his motive for going on the Everest expedition is to write an article about the experience of climbing as part of a commercial expedition. The perspective is in the first person, but with a journalistic viewpoint. Krakauer often seems removed from the subject, describing events as objectively as possible, as one would expect in a journalistic article. For example, he is sometimes critical of his fellow climbers, even though elsewhere he describes…
At the turn of the 20th century, women were considered inferior to men: they were only required to stay at home, take care of households and children. “The Chrysanthemums”, as told by John Steinbeck, is a story of a woman during that period who tries to change the course of her destiny. In this story, the two-fold issues of femininity and symbolism play a critical part in explaining this helplessness. Steinbeck uses the narrative to signify the hope for change of the woman as well as her character by illustrating different similarities between Elisa and her flowers. Readers are able to comprehend how a lady feels when she is caged within her life, and the struggles to disengage from such oppression. At the end of the story, the writer expresses a sense of hopelessness for Elisa because, although she might try as much as possible to free herself, reality will rise up and keep her entrenched in a subdued role.…
How many people sit down and think about what symbolizes their lives? A symbol is a person place or thing that suggests something other than its literal meaning. In John Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums” Elisa Allen lives on a ranch with her husband Henry in Salinas Valley. Henry is off talking to men about the livestock on the ranch while Elisa is tending to her garden. A tinker comes up to their yard and begins to talk to Elisa about his work and all of his travels. He tries to get Elisa to let him work, but she does not feel that she needs any work done. The tinker notices the garden of chrysanthemums, and tells Elisa that he knows a woman that wants to grow them. Elisa develops a short lived attraction to the tinker as she is offering him the flower and giving him careful instructions on taking care of them. Steinbeck uses symbolism throughout this short story. Things such as the wire fence around the garden, the changing of Elisa’s clothing, and the chrysanthemums themselves mean something beyond their literal meaning. Everyone has an item or person that symbolizes their life.…
Often times, we go through life feeling confused, lost, and sad. Living life through various facades grows weary over time. Eventually, we are led to the inevitable search to strive for the discovery of who we really are. Self-identity is an important focal point in our individual triumphs and tribulations we experience in our journey of life. During times of conflict, we frequently struggle with only ourselves.…
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.…
Is it possible for a woman to break free of the oppression that she feels inside? “The Chrysanthemums,” by John Steinbeck tell of how the flowers that Elisa Allen grows mimic her own existence. Elisa lives in the Salinas Valley which is isolated from the rest of the world by mountains and a high dense winter fog. She yearns of the day when she will break free of her mundane life and a valley that holds her prisoner. Maybe it is wishful thinking or she may be ready to take on a world that considers her the weaker sex.…
When friendships are dissolved, the consequences can be devastating. In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics - VIII – IX he explains how humans learn from one another, and that humans are innately social animals (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics - VIII – IX, 148-149). Friendships are required in life learn about values. Without friends, humans would not be able to learn such values from each other, nor will they be able to confide in each other. Having friends in life allow for the mutual growth of both parties. Rebecca Traister writes in her article “What Women Find in Friends That They May Not Get from Love” her experiences with her friend Sara. Traister says, “In each other, we found respite, recognition, a shared eagerness to relax, take stock and talk about it all.” (Sara Traister, “What Women Find in Friends That They May Not Get from Love, 1), going on to say this relationship was mutual where they benefited from each other’s company. As they both grew together over time, much like Aristotle suggests is the value of friendship. Humans life are not fulfilled unless friends are there to support each other. As Traister says, “For many women, friends are our primary partner through life” (Sara Traister, “What Women Find in Friends That They May Not Get from Love, 5). In Traister’s case, the friendship she shares with Sara is a friendship of virtue.…
delivers to the audience her thoughts and underlying emotions of being a woman in a “man’s world.” The chrysanthemums reflects Elisa’s character and her dreams of being free to grow, make decisions, free to travel, make her own money and most of all the desire to be attractive. Elisa feels closed in and secluded from the rest of the world, just as Steinbeck describes the atmosphere at the introduction of the story, “The high grey-flannel fog of winter closed off the Salinas Valley from the sky and from all the rest of the world” (192).…
John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" is a story that is full of symbolism. After the first read, it might seem like an innocent tale about a woman and her garden. However, upon further examination, the reader learns it is actually a story about a woman's desires and frustrations in her life. Steinbeck uses many examples, such as the flowers to symbolize the thoughts and ideas of the main character, Elisa, in this story.…
John Steinbeck lived in a time period where women didn’t have any power. Ultimately, it was a society where men ruled by a long shot. Women were looked upon as objects, and not human beings. They could not have the same jobs that men had; they were usually home figures. Taking care of the home while their husbands were out working. It’s safe to say that many women weren’t happy in this time period, and you can tell through all of the rallying by women to gain more social and political power. John Steinbeck wrote The Chrysanthemums, but in the end it had nothing to do about a flower. It was about a women Elisa who felt trapped in another marriage, and how she was mistreated by her husband. The central idea of the text is how women could not…
Symbolism is a literary term used ought to often. Sometimes it is not even necessary in a wide variety of its uses. Yet in some stories, it is all the readers have to go off of and his extremely vital. In “The Flowers” and “Chrysanthemums” the authors so seamlessly insert one or two examples of symbolism into the text, so the instances were obvious enough to the readers but delicately placed therefore they were not obnoxious. The two short stories are slightly similar since both of their symbols are regarding flowers, yet they have completely different meanings. One a meaning of understandance and the other a meaning of strength. The symbols coincided directly with the characters and basically were the most prominent element in characterizing…
When you think of children, what was the first thing that comes to mind? Reckless? Young? Naïve? Gullible? Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer, is a book written about an extraordinary but childlike man who set out on a quest, looking for an adventure of being surrounded by nature. Chris McCandless, who the book is based off of, was a man of wonder. No one was ever certain about what he thought, how he felt, or why he went on this suicide journey. Was it because of his childlike recklessness? Or was it something deeper? Chris McCandless was reckless and along with that came passion, loneliness, and despair. So, can we really judge him when he made the decision to live in the most wild parts of the Alaskan state?…
Throughout The Odyssey, the Greek vocabulary word metis holds the most importance because of the clever, life-saving decisions Odysseus makes. Throughout the epic, Odysseus is faced with several challenges to overcome. His quick-witted (wily) personality and intelligence is what eventually gets him out of these situations. For example, on the island of the lotus-eaters, Odysseus’ men become addicted to the louts flowers and intend to stay on the island forever. Odysseus was smart enough not to eat the flowers and to bring his men back aboard the ship: “But I brought them back, back/to the hollow ships, and streaming tears—I forced them” (9.110-111). Odysseus seems to always know the right thing to do in every situation. When the Cyclops Polyphemus…
A fundamental aspect of intricate kinship, loyalty within a friendship is a driving force and foundation on which a relationship is constructed, developed, and corrupted. Compelling closeness and loyalty provide the soul with an unmatched unity and comfort in life, and serve as an integral component of one’s intensely intrinsic commitment to another. The deep attachment and relentless devotion associated with such an awareness of fealty can lead to both regrettable and rewarding circumstances.…