Sexism In The Chrysanthemums By John Steinbeck

Since the dawn of the patriarchal society, women have always strived to be recognized as equals of men. Female visionaries speak words of feminism and empowerment to encourage other women to stand up, be heard and be noticed. In the short stories “The Chrysanthemums” and “A Worn Path” by John Steinbeck and Eudora Welty, respectively, both authors give their portrayal of women in slightly similar but seemingly different ways. Though both stories provide insight on what women can do with the abilities they have, the authors give their own illustrations on women’s true strength. Looking first at Steinbeck’s

Everything is everything in the world of short stories. Steinbeck's The Chrysanthemums is full of thick rhetoric that raises questions and stirs the mind and imagination. Everything from the title, to the last line needs to be thought about more than once. The story isn't just about a farmer's wife who likes pretty flowers. Not in the least! The Chrysanthemums is a story about how Elisa Allen is forced to a life that she feels is trapping her. The story is set in the early twentieth century and these times don't allow for just any woman to leave her ordinary, socially and politically correct life. Feminism is a large part of the story, and main character Elisa Allen's language, actions, and even the way she is described play a large

The great Elizabeth Cady Stanton once said, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women were created equal.” Thus, the significance behind this quote by Mrs. Stanton reveals that not only has the society upon planet Earth have establish a cruel history of suppressing the female gender, but it has also manufactured many stigmas and notions that are pinned to perception of how a woman must conduct herself. Nonetheless, several examples of society’s shortcomings are presented throughout O’Connor’s short story. Specifically, the story’s representation of Red Sammy’s wife and her subsequent actions allow the reader to make the strong connection that society in the 1950’s was an era in time where males obtained significant social

Firstly, Elisa and Mrs. Mallard related in the fact that they both faced the sad reality that women in their time periods were unbearably unequal to men. For example, in "The Chrysanthemums," it was clear that women had no say in the business aspects of things such as running a ranch. This is

In the three short stories “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates, and “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin, each author provides insight into the complexity of human nature through the internal struggles faced by a main character within each story. In “The Chrysanthemums” Steinbeck paints Elisa in a way that displays her lack of feminine identity, highlighting her personal sexual views of herself and ¬¬the internal struggle it creates, then in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, Oates also presents a female who struggles with her sexual view of herself which we see throughout the story as Connie hides her sexuality at home but lets it run wild for the rest of the world, ultimately leading to her demise, and lastly in “Sonny’s Blues”, Baldwin introduces Sonny and the complex issues he goes through as his brother doubts his

John Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums”, is a story about a woman struggling with strong inner feelings of loneliness and isolation. Elisa Allen is initially portrayed as a woman who overcompensates and whose tasks are far exceeded by her abilities. She appears content with her life and adores tending to her garden. However, a tinker briefly enters her life and through his power of persuasion and manipulation provides Elisa with hopes of change and excitement. He gives her the much needed attention she is so desperately looking for. As the story continues we learn that these hopes are crushed as we unravel the betrayal the tinker has bestowed upon Elisa. He exploits her and takes advantage of her hunger for company, aspirations, and

In The Chrysanthemum, Elisa Allen’s character is clearly the result of oppression in a male dominated community. Early on, Steinbeck makes it a point to establish her femininity (or lack there of) as the result of her marriage to, and life with, a common rancher and farmer:

Many readers who analyze Steinbeck's short story, "The Chrysanthemums", feel Elisa's flowers represent her repressed sexuality, and her anger and resentment towards men. Some even push the symbolism of the flowers, and Elisa's masculine actions, to suggest she is unable to establish a true relationship between herself and another. Her masculine traits and her chrysanthemums are enough to fulfill her entirely. This essay will discuss an opposing viewpoint. Instead, it will argue that Elisa's chrysanthemums, and her masculine qualities are natural manifestations of a male dominated world. Pertinent examples from "The Chrysanthemums" will be given in an attempt to illustrate that Elisa's character qualities, and gardening skills,

John 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 somber short story have made it a popular study among scholars and students alike. Steinbeck also uses literary elements including a dramatic tone, rich symbolism, and personification which increase the stories feeling and value exponentially. Steinbeck

The advancement of women in society is a remarkable achievement, and the first step to true equality in the world. Despite the tremendous progress, oppression faced in the past should not be forgotten, largely because it is present modern society as well. In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and Alice Walker’s The Color Purple, both female relationships and identities are explored to determine the purpose of women. Society's historic tendency to undervalue women is seen more in The Handmaid's Tale than in The Color Purple.

As she looks out to these men, we look at Elisa. Although she is doing the "feminine" work of gardening, she is dressed like a man. She wore a black hat low on her forehead to cover her hair, thick leather gloves covered her hands, and clodhopper shoes covering her small woman's feet. A "big corduroy apron" covered the dress making "her figure look blocked and heavy" (396). Unconsciously, as she looks through her fence at the men talking business, she is trying to cover up her feminine qualities. She longs to be in their position and possess their characteristics.

“Never underestimate the strength, and the power of a woman. Women can do almost anything that men can do” -London Mond. Both Elisa and Louise prove to be strong passionate women that show women clearly have dreams of their own as being equal to men. and having an intimate relationship. Although true, they both lacked resemblance in the true desire they each yearned for. There seems to be a contradiction between both women in finding what they want in their own life. It takes a toll on both of them to situate what they’re going to do with their life to show the engagement of the women that try to be something they are not. Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" and in Chopin's "The

According to Barbara Wellers women in the nineteenth century were to hold the four cardinal virtues. Piety, purity, submission, and domesticity. Women were believed to be more religious and spiritual than men. Women are pure in heart, mind, and body. They were to be held in “perpetual childhood” where men dictated all their actions and decisions.

James depicts the subversion of gender roles through Daisy’s purposeful violation of cultural women expectations, reinforces gender stereotypes by portrayal of the consequences stemmed from Daisy’s own mistakes and rash choices of defiance viewed as a punishment for her appropriation of masculine liberty, and makes the reader aware of gender politics through pointing out the vast differences between the behaviors of Daisy and Winterbourne. Through this representation, the novella implicitly develops the unjust difference of gender norms.

In the texts of ‘The Chrysanthemums’ by John Steinbeck, ‘Folk Hero’ by H.M. Tolcher and ‘Ode to Barbie’ by Romanie Moreton the concept of gender is supported and challenged in a variety of ways. Men are typically portrayed as hard-working, rebellious and fulfilling a job in a male dominated profession. In contrast to this, females are depicted as fragile and emotional, having the role of the housewife. The authors of the following texts have made use of descriptive language, imagery, figurative language and many more to communicate the themes of relationships, betrayal and identity. More so each author represents their perspective of gender, based on