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The Chrysanthemum: A Feminist Perspective

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The Chrysanthemum: A Feminist Perspective
The Chrysanthemum: A Feminist Perspective
Rebecca Pietron
South University Online

In John Steinbeck's story The Chrysanthemum, the story is about a strong and intelligent woman who enjoys working in her garden. The main character in the story is Elisa Allen, who works in her garden everyday and she plants beautiful chrysanthemum's every year. Elisa's garden is protected by a wire fence that keeps cattle, dogs, and chickens away. (Steinbeck, 1938 Pg 376) Her husband is very pleased with her gardening and comments on last year's chrysanthemum's and how they grew nearly ten inches across. “Maybe you can work in the orchard and raise some apples that big.” Her eyes sharpened. “Maybe I can do it too, I've got a gift for all things, all right.”

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