An Analysis Of John Steinbeck s The Chrysanthemums

Cynthia Gardner Richard Courtney ENG 1110 December 22, 2016 An Unsatisfied Life John Steinbeck’s â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† is a short story about a woman named Elisa and her unhappiness with her life. She is a woman living in a man’s world in the late 1930’s. Elisa and her husband, Henry, are childless. She is confined to a lonely life where she cares for her husband, their farm house, and her precious chrysanthemums. Throughout the story Steinbeck indicates Elisa’s struggle as a woman who wants more out of her life and feels she is stuck in the role society has chosen for her. At the beginning of the story Elisa is tending to her chrysanthemums. Henry is speaking to two businessmen across the yard. It appears Elisa is interested in their interaction as she glances in their direction several times. When the two men leave, Henry walks over to Elisa and compliments her on her award winning chrysanthemums. The compliment brings out her pride as is shown in her facial expression. She puts a lot of her energy into her chrysanthemu ms. He then tells her that he wishes she could use her skills in the orchard to grow big apples. Hearing this, Elisa perks up at the idea of helping with the business of the orchard. She is smart and capable, and she is desperately looking for more fulfillment in her life. Unfortunately Henry quickly drops the subject as he wasn’t serious, the business of the orchard is man’s work. â€Å"Her interest in the business side of the ranch goes unnoticed, herShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of John Steinbeck s The Chrysanthemums 1256 Words   |  6 PagesComparative Essay In â€Å"Chrysanthemums† john Steinbeck, the author, focuses on Elisa Allen, one of the main characters. She is presented as weak in that her daily activity consisted of tending her garden of chrysanthemums; Steinbeck focuses on how they provide insight into Elisa and how she relates to them, religiously. He implies that even though she fits a weak character, there are places in the narrative at the beginning that suggest some strong points and her longing towards the end. There areRead MoreAnalysis Of John Steinbeck s The Chrysanthemums 1532 Words   |  7 PagesJohn Steinbeck’s short story â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† shows a time when women are controlled and restrained to a traditional lifestyle. It portrays a struggle for equality that is played out through the eyes of the third person narrator. In telling the story, the narrator depicts the story through speech, actions and appearances of the main character, Elisa. Her place in the story is that in a w orld of masculinity during the times of the Great Depression and a fight to keep a bit of her happinessRead MoreThe Chrysanthemums By John Steinbeck982 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Chrysanthemums† is a short story written by John Steinbeck. The story was originally published in 1937 before later being released as a part of his The Long Valley collection. This is an important story as it expresses women in a way that is more realistic, showing their true boredom, ambition, and capabilities. Some scholars interpreted this story differently, but C. Kenneth Pellow interprets it as â€Å"radically feministic.† The Great Depression was finally ending and women’s rights were risingRead MoreEssay on Analysis of The Chrysanthemums1139 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis of The Chrysanthemums The short story The Chrysanthemums gives insight into the life of its author. John Steinbeck was born on February 27, 1902, in Salinas, California. The locale of the story is of key resemblance to the Salinas in which Steinbeck was born and bread. Salinas was a typical American small town, [differing] only in location and a few distinctive features (McCarthy 3). The protagonist of this story, Elisa Allen, also resembles Steinbecks first wife. SteinbeckRead MoreSymbolism in The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck Essay1547 Words   |  7 PagesSymbolism in The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck The Chrysanthemums, one of John Steinbecks masterpieces, describes a lonely farmers wife, Elisa Allen. Elisa Allens physical appearance is very mannish yet still allows a hint of a feminine side to peek through. John Steinbeck brings symbolism into play to represent Elisa Allens frustrations and hidden passions. Isolation is another representation through symbolism found in The Chrysanthemums. Elisas failing detached marriage is representedRead More The Chrysanthemums Essay1649 Words   |  7 PagesJohn Steinbeck’s, The Chrysanthemums, was published in 1938 in a book of short stories, entitled The Long Valley. The Chrysanthemums has been a rather powerful draw for scholars because of its wide gap for interpretations and analysis of its main protagonist character, Elisa Allen and also the unique descriptions used to portray the deeper meaning behind the setting of the story. Themes of sexuality, oppression of women, as well as other numerous types of conflict portrayed in this rather somberRead MoreJohn Steinbeck2062 Words   |  9 Pagesminiature versions of books or novels, where an author takes a tale and crams it into a ten to twenty page story. John Steinbeck is not only a well-known novelist, but also writes short stories like â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† and â€Å"Flight†. In Steinbeck’s â€Å"The Chrysthemums† Elisa Allen is married to a negligent ranch owner. While her husband works on the ranch, Elisa tends to her chrysanthemum garden daily. One day while tending to her garden, a charming tinker man pulls up to her in his wagon and tries toRead MoreEnglish All Semester 26504 Words   |  27 Pages| noun | literature that emphasizes a specific geographic area that reproduces the speech, behavior, and attitudes of the people who live in that region | sibilant | adjective | of, characterized by, or producing a hissing sound like that of (s) or (sh): | tableau | noun | a vivid or graphic description: The movie was a tableau of a soldiers life; a striking incidental scene, as of a picturesque group of people | tall-tale | noun | an outrageously exaggerated, humorous story that