steinbeck's chrysanthemums

A detailed Summary of steinbeck's chrysanthemums

John Steinbeck's short story, The Chrysanthemums, written in the late 1930's focuses on the central theme of feminism and how women are bound by society. One may note that this story was written right around the time that the country was recovering from the Great Depression, and women's rights were a hot political topic.

In The Chrysanthemums, Steinbeck portrayed the struggle for equality through the protagonist of the story, Elisa Allen. Elisa, wife to rancher Henry Allen is described in the story to be a woman of her mid thirties, with a figure said to be "blocked and heavy," referring to her heavy gloves and shoes she wore to work in the garden. When reading the story, one may gather that it is about a woman whose niche is in the garden, however there is a much deeper meaning that lies beneath; A meaning that demonstrates that the antagonist is something aside from her husband or the stranger, it is the male dominated society as a whole. Strong notes of feminism are revealed in Elisa's actions and feelings while reading of her struggle to try and define her masculinity in this male dominated society. The Chrysanthemums displays a strong, capable woman kept from personal, social, and sexual fulfillment due to the prevail

The story's setting is in Salinas Valley, California, along the countryside, on a winter day in December. The story does have quite a modern setting, as we conclude from Steinbeck because he speaks of how the rancher/husband, Henry and two other business men are gathered around a small Fordson tractor, discussing the buying and selling of the thirty head of three year old steer. Elisa sees these men while she is preparing for her new season of Chrysanthemums. Henry later tells her that the two men were from a meat market and he has sold the cattle for nearly his own price. He asks if she would like to go to dinner and a movie, perhaps a fight, later tonight to celebrate. She accepts the invite to dinner and the movie, but denies the fight. This is one of the many instances in which the limited omniscient point of view is made completely obvious. Throughout the whole story, one can tell that Steinbeck's intent was for the reader to see the occurrences through the story of Elisa and try to understand her struggle for feminist equality.

After Elisa's conversation with Henry, a stranger in a wagon comes wandering up the cross road, off of the highway. He is looking for business and asks Elisa if she has any scissors or knives to be sharpened or pots and pans to be mended. Elisa tells him she has no work for him, and tries to treat him such as a man would treat any businessman, but she begins to soften up after he took interest in her Chrysanthemums. He fed her a line saying something about how a customer of his always wanted some Chrysanthemums and would she please give him some to take to her. Elisa, trying to portray more masculine

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Approximate Word count = 1115
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English