Prompt: How do the chrysanthemums as well as other symbols throughout the short story show women’s role in society? A Potential for Equality Humans‚ just as flowers‚ cannot fully live without sunlight. They cannot develop without nourishment‚ and most of all they cannot flourish if not carefully tended to. Just as the Chrysanthemums fight to stay strong and meaningful in the short story‚ “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck‚ the main character‚ Emily‚ tries to do the same. Both the
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The Chrysanthemums John Steinbeck was born on February 27‚ 1902 to John Ernst Steinbeck and Olive Hamilton Steinbeck. He was raised in the small rural town of Salinas Valley California. During his summer breaks John worked on nearby ranches and when he got older with the migrant workers on a neighbor’s ranch. While working on the ranches and with the migrant workers he noticed firsthand how hard life can be. From his work experience on the ranches and working the migrant workers and seeing what’s
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Throughout the ages women have been confined to the role of a family wife. Being born a women already gave you a set job to do for the rest of a girl’s life. In the Story “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck‚ Elisa lives a hopeful life until is goes through a downward spiral as she faces the hard truth of the world around her. Elisa starts out by feeling the desire for something more in life but is constantly prevented from it. Elisa comments that “When the night is dark- why the stars are sharp-pointed
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The Chrysanthemums‚ by John Steinbeck‚ is a fictional story about a woman who lives with her husband in a small country area. The couple does not experience many visitors and is usually occupied with their everyday routines. In the story the reader is shown Elsa’s thoughts and personal struggles. The men in the story are continually viewing Elisa in a different light than she tries to view herself in. Stereotypical roles‚ symbolism‚ and patriarchy all prove that Elisa portrays a strong soul‚ while
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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
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Steinbeck’s "The Chrysanthemums" is a feminist text. Throughout the whole book there is a slight undertone about how Elisa is tired of her life and wants to leave her husband and the boring tedious life she leads there with him. While she is a somewhat strong woman‚ what with helping around on the farm‚ it still seems like she is eager to get away from it all and have an adventure. The story begins with discussing how good of a gardener Elisa is‚ and how proud she is of her garden. Gardening is usually
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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. Elisa Allen is a lonesome woman who gets pleasure from growing
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The Chrysanthemums Analysis 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
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The Chrysanthemums Feminist Lens The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck shows the world in the perception of women during a period of time where they held little power‚ were contained and weren’t as valuable as men. The protagonist Elisa is contained within her house and her garden. This is shown when the author says “like a lid on the mountains and made of the great valley a closed pot.”(112) also the fence in Elisa garden represents a barrier between her and the outside world. Elisa is shown as
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Professor Course Date: Chrysanthemums: Literary Criticism 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
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