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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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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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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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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In John Steinbeck’s story “The Chrysanthemums” the main character Elisa is in the garden wearing men’s clothing; her appearance made her seem strong. "Her face was lean and strong and her eyes were as clear as water"(Steinbeck 226). Elisa has a strong self-confident attitude in the beginning of the story before meeting the pot fixer‚ and by the end of the story she lacks confidence and feels like she is losing control. In the beginning‚ Elisa likes the power she has over the chrysanthemums. The
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John Steinbeck was a free-lance writer from California who became well known after his first published story in 1935. In his story The Chrysanthemums Steinbeck‚ uses the theme of loneliness and confinement. The main character Elisa Allen is mainly focused on her garden of chrysanthemums will her husband is unaware of the changes she is going through while he sits next to her. He used imagery to reinforce his theme of loneliness and confinement by giving a detailed look on the valley and the characters
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John Steinbeck’s short story “The Chrysanthemums” is set in December near Salinas Valley‚ on a farm. The main theme in this short story is gender inequality. Gender inequality is seen throughout the story many times in different ways. In this essay I will explain how Steinbeck uses characters‚ culture‚ and plot to reinforce gender inequality throughout the story by making connections between the textual evidence and gender inequality‚ in order‚ to get a better understanding of why the theme is gender
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