Feminism in John Steinbecks The Chrysanthemums :: Feminism Feminist Women Criticism

Feminism in John Steinbecks The Chrysanthemums At first glance John Steinbecks The Chrysanthemums seems to be a story ab out(p) a cleaning wo human beings whose niche is in the garden. Upon deeper limited review the story has strong notes of feminism in the central character enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assay Allen. Elisas actions and feelings reflect her struggle as a woman trying and failing to emasculate herself in a male prevail society. Elisa is at her strongest and most proud in the garden and becomes vulnerable when placed in feminine positions such as going out to dinner with her husband. Steinbeck carefully narrates this womans frequent shifts between muliebrity and masculinity over a short period of time. In the source of the story Elisa is emasculated by the description of her clothing. She wears a mans black hat pulled low down over her eyes, clodhopper shoes, a figured print dress almost completely cover by a big corduroy apron (paragraph 5). When Elisas husband Henry comes over and compliments her garden and ability to arrive things Elisa is smug with him and very proud of her skill with the flowers. Her green limp makes her an equal in her own eyes. When Elisas husband asks her if she would manage to go to dinner her feminine side comes out. She is excited to go use up at a restaurant and states that she would much rather go to the movies than go see the fights, she wouldnt like the fights at on the whole (paragraph 21). Elisa is taken aback with her own submissiveness and quickly becomes preoccupied with her flowers as soon as her husband leaves. When the vagrant comes and asks Elisa for work to do she is stern with him and refuses him a job. She acts as a man would to another alien man and becomes irritated. When he persists in asking her she replys I tell you I have nothing like that for you to do (paragraph 46). The drifter mentions Elisas chrysanthemums and she immediately loosens up as the irritation and oppositenes s melt(ed) from her face (paragraph 51). The drifter feigns great interest in Elisas chrysanthemums and asks her many questions about them. He tells her he knows a lady who tell to him if you ever come across some nice chrysanthemums I compliments youd try to get me a few seeds (paragraph 56). Elisa is joy by any interest in her flowers and gives the man chrysanthemum sprouts to take to his friend.