Gender Roles In John Steinbeck's 'The Chrysanthemums'

Originally when the community found out Emily was interested in Homer, they were happy that she had found someone because she seemed hopeless. However, the happiness did not last long. The townspeople began to feel

Several times it is mentioned that he drove all her suitors away because no one was good enough for her in his mind. This showing of love from Emily's father has proven to be more harmful than it is helpful. After her father's death, Emily somewhat begins to panic. She no longer had that leader or figure of total control and dominance in her life. This leads us to Homer Barron which Emily hopes will fulfill her feeling of isolation.

and so the flowers will make the trip safely. She becomes very upset when she sees that the man has thrown out the flowers on the side of the road. She feels betrayed and

“Her eyes shone. She tore off the battered hat and shook out her dark pretty hair…”(Steinbeck 6). Stripping from her old, tattered gardening hat reveals a soft, graceful version of Elisa that is hidden behind the psychological fence she has built up to protect her heart. She allows herself to give a part of her deepest self to the repairman as “her breast swelled passionately”, her voice and demeanor becomes more sensual as she nearly touches his trousers (Steinbeck 7). However, she is taken as a fool.

In the beginning of the story, Steinbeck describes Elisa as having masculine qualities. “Her face was lean and strong and … her figure looked blocked and heavy in her gardening costume…” (Steinbeck 237-238). The word “strong” describes her many times throughout the story. She is so strong that the stems of the chrysanthemums “seemed too small and easy for her energy” (Steinbeck 238). As the story progresses, her attitude goes through a significant

John Steinbeck’s, The Chrysanthemums, is a story set in the early 20th century. The story takes place in December, on the ranch of Henry and Elisa Allen, near the Salinas Valley in California. The Allen ranch has an apple orchard and cattle on it. Henry runs the ranch as head of household and Elisa is a homemaker with a knack for growing chrysanthemums. We pick up the story with Henry, who has just sold some cattle.

Not only that, as Homer becomes a popular figure in town and is seen taking Emily on buggy rides on Sunday afternoons, it scandalizes the town and increases the condescension and pity they have for Emily. They feel that she is forgetting her family pride and becoming involved with a man beneath her station. Even though Emily is from the high class family, it does not mean that she is living up to the pleasant lifestyle. As a matter of fact, she is actually living a gloomy and desolate life, which is essentially the opposite lifestyle expected for Emily's rank in society by the townspeople. Although Emily once represented a great southern tradition centering on the landed gentry with their vast holdings and considerable resources, Emily's legacy has devolved, making her more a duty and an obligation than a romanticized vestige of a dying order.

In John Steinbeck's short story "The Chrysanthemums," the setting plays a significant role in conveying the protagonist Elisa's emotional and psychological state. Specifically, her gardening costume, which includes a man's black hat, clod-hopper shoes, a big corduroy apron, and heavy leather gloves, serves as a symbol of her desire to hide her femininity and present herself in a more masculine manner. As Steinbeck describes, Elisa's choice of clothing suggests that she is deliberately masking her femininity and presenting herself in a more masculine way. The man's black hat pulled low down over her eyes and the heavy leather gloves protect her from the sun and soil but also obscure her face and hands, which are often considered traditionally

Elisa is not the most feminine woman, “[h]er figure look[s] blocked and heavy in her gardening costume…” (204). This imagery of a heavy, blocked figure is very masculine which contrasts from the feminine, nurturing imagery of Elisa caring for her chrysanthemums as if they were her children. This hard and masculine image of Elisa leads to a lack of romance within her and Henry’s marriage. Elisa feels as though Henry doesn’t see her as feminine which causes her to be hostile toward Henry. While Henry seems aloof of Elisa’s needs, Elisa is not quick to tell Henry what her needs are; this lack of communication not only adds to Elisa’s frustration, but leaves her unable to properly handle the Tinker.

Elisa 's interaction with the men in the story illustrates the strength of her character and an attempt to demand respect in a society that views women

In the short story “The Chrysanthemums” John Steinbeck shows how a woman, Elisa Allen, is emotionally disappointed with her life. Elisa feels that her husband does not appreciate her womanly needs and not having children makes her feel that she has an unfulfilling life. Elisa finds a way to clear her thoughts on her life by tending her flower garden and creating beautiful chrysanthemums. The use of symbolism is used throughout the John Steinbeck's short story “ The Chrysanthemums” with the flowers and the Salinas Valley. Steinbeck uses symbolism to show how Elisa Allen feels with her emotional needs as a women.

All over the world, in the past and even today, there has been a major problem called sexism. Women everywhere are being oppressed and marginalized. There are no real reasons for this, except for the fact that they are women. John Steinbeck’s exploration of a real-world issue, which is sexism, is clearly shown in Of Mice and Men and The Pearl through the characters of Curley’s wife and Juana.

In the early nineteenth century, John Steinbeck wrote a short story titled “The Chrysanthemums” that broke ground on the repressed sexuality of women in that era. Women of the nineteenth century were extremely repressed by the patriarchal society that was in power in that era, so they often were not able to express their femininity and their sexuality. The Nineteenth century woman that “The Chrysanthemums” follows is Elisa Allen, a middle aged farmer's wife. Elisa dresses rather mannish in the beginning and throughout most of the story, excluding of course at the end of the story when she wears a dress to go out to town. Elisa is also exuberantly passionate about her chrysanthemums and her sexuality and femininity is linked directly to her flowers.

Kierrah Edwards ENGL 201 9/20/15 Character Analysis: Emily Grierson The short story “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner depicts how seclusion can certainly impact one’s life. Throughout the story, Emily gives off this “insane” impression. However, after fully reading the story, the reader can fully understand why Emily was the way she was. Emily Grierson was a very dependent person.

Secondly, the first man to come along and show interest in Emily was Homer Barron who did not intend to stay around… forever. Homer shows up to town for construction work on the sidewalks outside her house. The town notices that they are spending a lot of time together, but feel she has downgraded since Emily is an old-fashioned Southern. Homer is the first man to ever show interest in her since her father’s death. After some time, Mr. Homer finishes the construction work and leaves town, but eventually comes back after Emily’s cousins leave.