My Interpretation of “The Chrysanthemums” “The Chrysanthemums” is one of John Steinbeck’s popular short stories. “The Chrysanthemums” represents inequality of gender‚ limitations‚ and feminism. The story is about a married woman living in the early 1900s who longs for a more exciting‚ meaningful existence. Elisa Allen is intelligent‚ accomplished‚ attractive‚ and ambitious. Yet she feels confined in her life and marriage. Steinbeck uses the world around Elisa to give the
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Marissa Cooper English 103 Thomas Birmingham The Chrysanthemums In the short story The Chrysanthemums‚ the author weaves a tale about one woman’s struggle with her confined life in a male dominated society. The story takes place in the Salinas Valley and focuses on the main character Elisa. In the short story The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck‚ the author employs literary devices to depict the theme of frustration and limitation. Steinbeck uses the weather as well as the setting
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Engl. 1302 April 15‚ 2013 Paper 1 Character Analysis “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck John Steinbeck was born in 1902 and lived during what is said to be the most troubled time in American history. Steinbeck was alive during the Dust Bowl paired with the Great Depression‚ which is believed to be the reason for his almost melancholiac tone in some of his works but he seemed a very diverse writer. Along with “The Chrysanthemums”‚ Steinbeck is the author of the well-known and famous novel
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The Unhappily Married in Fiction The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck and Shiloh by Bobbie Ann Mason have many similar components with slight differences. The point of view in Shiloh is told by third person limited‚ and in Chrysanthemums it is also third person (mostly Elisa’s view.) The Chrysanthemums is a story about a wife named Elisa Allen who is unhappy with her life and marriage. Similarly‚ in Shiloh the main character’s name is Norma Jean Motif‚ and she is also unhappy with her marriage.
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The Chrysanthemum In the Chrysanthemum‚ Elisa is a woman married to a man who makes her unhappy and she does nothing about this. Elisa lives her unhappy life while being gardener like her mother and other woman once were. Elisa troubles are in my opinion entirely her fault and she is responsible for everything that happens to her. Elisa is a woman who’s unhappy with the overall image of a woman and what a woman was supposed to do; like stay in the home and be the gardener and
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Steinbeck’s "The Chrysanthemums" is a feminist text. Throughout the whole book there is a slight undertone about how Elisa is tired of her life and wants to leave her husband and the boring tedious life she leads there with him. While she is a somewhat strong woman‚ what with helping around on the farm‚ it still seems like she is eager to get away from it all and have an adventure. The story begins with discussing how good of a gardener Elisa is‚ and how proud she is of her garden. Gardening is usually
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Symbolism in John Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums” In “The Chrysanthemus” Steinbeck’s ability to reveal major insights about both the central characters as well as humanity in general. Through heavy yet artful symbolism‚ an author can make something seemingly confusing or insignificant; manifest itself into a hugely relevant detail. “Chrysanthemums” is one of those tales. Utilizing a variety if symbols‚ such as Elisa`s clothing‚ images of inside versus outside‚ fights and flowers carefully
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In the early 1900’s‚ farm families do not go into town every day. Therefore‚ they do not have much interaction with the public. Hence‚ Henry and Elisa Allen spend the majority of their time tending to the farm. In the John Steinbeck story‚ The Chrysanthemums‚ he tells of a lonely‚ hardworking farm wife‚ who is seeking attention‚ and wonders what life could be like outside of the valley‚ but decides to settle for the country life she currently lives. To begin‚ Henry and Elisa live in Salinas Valley
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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
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Symbolism in John Steinbeck’s "The Chrysanthemums" In the short story‚ "The Chrysanthemums‚" Steinbeck effectively uses symbols to help the reader understand the story’s plot and obtain insight into characters’ thoughts and feelings‚ primarily Elisa. As the story’s main character‚ Elisa is a lonely thirty-five-year-old woman‚ who serves as the channel in which most of these symbols are used. Elisa feels neglected by her husband‚ Henry‚ who is always working cattle on their foothill ranch. He shows
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