The external conflict is evident from Steinbeck’s introduction of the protagonist Elisa. He describes her figure as blocked and heavy, because she is wearing heavy gloves, heavy shoes, a man’s black hat, and a big apron that hides her print dress. Her home is described as being hard-swept and hard-polished (Steinbeck 176). These descriptions give one the feeling that Elisa is a woman unhappy with the traditional female role and is attempting to extend her abilities into masculine areas. Elisa is a strong woman because of her manly qualities. Her masculinity shines through because of the way she covers up. The squatting position she takes to work in her garden is not at all the feminine w

ay. Kneeling was the understood position for a true lady. Elisa “shoves the thick scissors in her apron pocket” again, not the delicate way a woman would have done it. Elisa does not seem to cultivate her chrysanthemums in a way that is gentle and loving. She is exhibiting her masculine traits. There is a feminine part of her, however, wanting to emerge. Elisa is wearing the print dress while working in her garden, and protecting her feminine hands from becoming rough by wearing heavy gloves.

After the tinker leaves, Elisa forgets her flowers. She runs into the house, to the bathroom, tearing off her clothes to clean herself. Elisa is cleansing herself of the masculine situation, retreating back to her feminine side. She scrubs until her skin is scratched and red, then primps in front of the mirror. She puts on her best and most flattering clothes, works on her hair and makeup-all the feminine things ladies do in hopes to accentuate her role. When her husband Henry sees her, he immediately notices the transformation and compliments her with the feminine adjective ‘nice’. Not long after, while in the car driving into town Elisa spots the seedlings she gave the tinker tossed on the side of the road. I believe this was the signal of her final retreat back to femininity. She seems to believe that her world will continue to be dominated by men and that she must

Some topics in this essay:
Allen Elisa’s, John Steinbeck’s, Elisa Allen, apron pocket, women 1930’s, print dress, husband henry, wearing heavy gloves, elisa’s internal, internal conflicts, elisa allen, woman elisa, heavy gloves, wearing heavy,