Ana September 27‚ 2011 “The Chrysanthemums” Critical Analysis “The Chrysanthemums”‚ written by John Steinbeck is a story about a thirty-five year-old woman named Elisa Allen and her encounter with an old bearded man in a wagon and his effect in her perspective in life. The point of view in which the story was narrated is relevant to its analysis and understanding. Also a character analysis can be done to interpret how they each think and act the way they do. Steinbeck uses a great amount
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Analysis of Character and Setting: "The Chrysanthemums" John Steinbeck’s "The Chrysanthemums" shows the true feelings of the main character‚ Elisa Allen‚ through the use of setting and her interactions with other characters in the story. By way of vivid descriptions‚ Elisa’s feelings of dissatisfaction over the lack of excitement in her life are portrayed. Her role as a mere housewife and then the subsequent change to feelings of a self-assured woman are clearly seen. These inner feelings are
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Boris Grushin "The Chrysanthemums" by John Steinbeck The short story "The Chrysanthemums" shows how extraordinarily forward thinking the author‚ John Steinbeck‚ was in his understanding of the pressures that women dealt with in his time. Through the exploration and illustration of women’s emotions‚ Steinbeck gives us a view into the struggle of women in the early 20th century to find a place for themselves in society as well as establishing their own sexuality(Charters‚ 502). The
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In John Steinbeck’s “Chrysanthemums” he hauntingly weaves a tale of repression. He explores creative‚ sexual and feminine repression that are all felt poignantly by his main character Elisa Allen. Although Elisa is described as strong we learn that she appears to be quite the opposite and spends her days feeling vulnerable and frustrated. As the story opens Elisa is working in her flower garden‚ tending her beloved chrysanthemums. Elisa encounters an old man in a dilapidated spring wagon who comes
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Randy Miller Professor Robert Stambaugh English 1102 21 February 2012 Boundaries of a Powerful and Beautiful Woman A short story written in 1938 by John Steinbeck named “The Chrysanthemums” has been known over the years in the entire world for being one of the most outstanding and significant stories in literature. Steinbeck created a magnificent story that captures the attention of readers immediately because of the meaning and features of it. The author created a special way to take the reader
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“The Chrysanthemums” In the story “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck. The main character Elisa allen is visited by a stranger who apparently changes her outlook on life. According to the story she seems to be a stay at home wife who loves to garden and is fascinated by chrysanthemums. While she is gardening one afternoon while her husband was in town‚ a man stops at her house. He offers to fix any pots or tools she has. While they are conversing he strikes up a conversation about the chrysanthemums
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John Steinbeck’s "The Chrysanthemums" features a strong capable and unsatisfied woman‚ Elisa Allen‚ whose talent cannot be recognized in the male-dominated society. Elisa Allen is a strong‚ talented woman‚ with powerful hands just like a man’s‚ and she is "over-eager" to puts her potential into practice. Even though she is "over-eager and over-powerful"‚ she could use her potential only in her flower garden. Actually‚ she does an excellent job there‚ keeping the farmhouse "neat" with windows "hard-polished"
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The Chrysanthemums. While Elisa wasn’t expecting any visitors‚ a man showed up and affected her strong and independent feelings to make her realize that she is lonelier than expected. First off‚ the narrator of the story shows that Elisa is a strong woman that could complete any task that needs physical strength with ease. He shows her strengths while she is working in the garden on her flowers and describes: “even her work with the scissors was overeager‚ overpowerful. The chrysanthemum stems
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John Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums” In John Steinbeck’s story “The Chrysanthemums” the symbolic connection between the flowers and Elisa‚ the main character‚ was very interesting. Throughout the story the chrysanthemums gave meaning to several things and the way things grew and changed. Although Elisa was a rather flat character within the story‚ she seemed to have been watered‚ grown‚ and blossomed like a flower; the symbolic connection between Elisa and the chrysanthemums illustrated a sense
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The Chrysanthemums In John Steinbeck story “The Chrysanthemums” a middle age wife‚ who obsess with her garden‚ struggles with societies biased opinion on a women’s role. The whole story revolves around her movements and mindset in her garden only. She longs for freedom‚ equality‚ and a life full of passion and love. The title “The Chrysanthemums” gives a hint of joy and happiness. It tricks the readers to think the story will be about life and creation‚ but that thought becomes obsolete. It is
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