The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck and Araby by James Joyce: Compare and Contrast
Meredith Bolden
Professor Skoglund
English Composition 113.02
24 Oct. 2013
Compare and Contrast The two stories “The Chrysanthemums” and “Araby” both have similarities and differences. These stories have different themes, settings, plots, and conflicts but they share one thing. In John Steinback’s story “The Chrysanthemums” and James Joyce’s story “Araby” the main characters both share similar characteristics. In “The Chrysanthemums” the main character Elisa Allen struggles to find her identity and loses her love and passion for her husband. In “Araby” the main character which remains unnamed also struggles in his identity and his love life, with his next door neighbor. Comparably both characters are struggling with the phases they are encountering in life.
To begin with, the main character Elisa Allen in “The Chrysanthemums” struggles in her relationship with her husband Henry Allen. The setting in this story is during woman’s suffrage, and finding a sense of identity during these times can be hard. Elisa a married woman struggles to find her identity and build a healthy relationship with her husband Henry. The story reads, “Before she was finished she heard the little thunder of hoofs and the shouts of Henry and his helper as they drove the red steers into the corral. She heard the gate bang shut and set herself for Henry’s arrival.” From that statement you can conclude, Elisa isn’t happy in relationship with Henry. Elisa having to prepare herself for her husband to walk through the door is a problem.
Followed by the unhappy marriage Elisa is in, she has no confidence. The text reads, “She stood up then, very straight, and her face was ashamed.” Being a housewife in the early 1900’s is another reason why Elisa is dissatisfied with where she is in life. The duties required of a housewife in those can be exhausting. Elisa is struggling to find her identity in herself while upholding the duties of a housewife. According to Stanley Renner, "The
Professor Skoglund
English Composition 113.02
24 Oct. 2013
Compare and Contrast The two stories “The Chrysanthemums” and “Araby” both have similarities and differences. These stories have different themes, settings, plots, and conflicts but they share one thing. In John Steinback’s story “The Chrysanthemums” and James Joyce’s story “Araby” the main characters both share similar characteristics. In “The Chrysanthemums” the main character Elisa Allen struggles to find her identity and loses her love and passion for her husband. In “Araby” the main character which remains unnamed also struggles in his identity and his love life, with his next door neighbor. Comparably both characters are struggling with the phases they are encountering in life.
To begin with, the main character Elisa Allen in “The Chrysanthemums” struggles in her relationship with her husband Henry Allen. The setting in this story is during woman’s suffrage, and finding a sense of identity during these times can be hard. Elisa a married woman struggles to find her identity and build a healthy relationship with her husband Henry. The story reads, “Before she was finished she heard the little thunder of hoofs and the shouts of Henry and his helper as they drove the red steers into the corral. She heard the gate bang shut and set herself for Henry’s arrival.” From that statement you can conclude, Elisa isn’t happy in relationship with Henry. Elisa having to prepare herself for her husband to walk through the door is a problem.
Followed by the unhappy marriage Elisa is in, she has no confidence. The text reads, “She stood up then, very straight, and her face was ashamed.” Being a housewife in the early 1900’s is another reason why Elisa is dissatisfied with where she is in life. The duties required of a housewife in those can be exhausting. Elisa is struggling to find her identity in herself while upholding the duties of a housewife. According to Stanley Renner, "The
Cited: • Renner, Stanley. "The Real Woman Inside The Fence In 'The Chrysanthemums. '" Modern FictionStudies 31 (1985): 305-17. • Heaney, Liam F, “Freud, Jung and Joyce: conscious connections”. Contemporary Review. 265.1542 (July 1994):p28. From Literature Resource Center. Web. 20 Apr. 2011.