... the garden, walls that surround the estate, and locked gates which guarantee seclusion. Even the connecting garden represents confinement, with box-bordered paths and grape-covered arbors. This isolation motif continues within the mansion itself. Although she preferred the downstairs room, the narrator finds herself confined to the dungeon-like nursery on the second floor, appropriately equipped with rings in the walls. This imagery further develops the theme of confinement. It is here that the ... ! It creeps all over the house. I find it hovering in the dining room, sulking in the parl...

• Word Count: 1237
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... it" and its "sprawling, flamboyant patterns committing every artistic sin." The house is described as "The most beautiful place!" It has a "delicious garden" with "large and shady, full of box-bordered paths, and lined with long grape-covered arbors with seats under them." The room where John assigns her to living is a "big, airy room, the whole floor nearly, with windows that look all ways, and air ... or women behind the pattern move around the room fast, shaking the pattern as they go. She begins to believe that the woman gets out from behind the pattern. She knows this because she can...

• Word Count: 1096
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... ," centers around a woman named Elisa, an avid gardner who is strong, "blocked and heavy" (Steinbeck). When the story begins, Elisa is working in her garden when her husband approaches her and and implies that she has obviously has a gift for planting and cultivating flowers. This acknowledgement from her husband pleases Elisa and makes her proud. ... ;allowed" to. Society believes that each gender has a certain job to do and if one gender, mainly women, did the other one's job, they would be looked down upon. Therefore, Elisa devotes all her time to maintain her house and garden. Even t...

• Word Count: 821
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... with the precipitation in the gardens, continually suggest erotic transgressions, a complete departure from the stuffy atmosphere of the Givings' home. When the action of the play is transferred completely from the home to the garden, we also see the implications of the snow. Catherine writes her name in the snow and makes angels in it, but her husband fails to notice until the final scene, when he has no choice but to recognize the snow. The purity of the scenery ... set by the snowy garden paired with their undressed ... ...

• Word Count: 1862
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... to be a story about a woman whose niche is in the garden. Upon deeper inspection the story has strong notes of feminism in the central character Elisa Allen. Elisa's actions and feelings reflect her struggle as a woman trying and failing to emasculate herself in a male dominated society. Elisa is at her strongest and most proud in the garden and becomes weak when placed in feminine positions such as ... going out to dinner with her husband. Steinbeck smartly narrates this woman's frequent shifts between femininity and masculinity over a short period of time. In the opening of the story ...

• Word Count: 797
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... on a person. Another part of the setting that plays an equally important role is the fence that surrounds Elisa's garden. It is a reoccurring symbol that represents the barriers that separate Elisa's garden from her husband and the rest of the world, "he [Henry] leaned over the wire fence that protected her flower garden from cattle and dogs and chickens" (260). These animals represent Henry's world while the garden represents hers. Henry always approaches ... the fence calmly and carefully never wanting ... ...

• Word Count: 1196
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... be controlled by those around her and the world opinions of a woman; because of this, she becomes numb and does not even realize her position as an individual. Her freedom comes with the disconnection from her husband. She repeatedly proclaims, "'free, free, free!-' as she came to the realization that she could be in control of herself (148). When she leaves the confines of her room, "she [carries] herself unwittingly like ... a goddess of Victory- (149). She understands that "Spring days, and summer days, and all sorts ... that she never voiced her own. It is hard for many to be their...

• Word Count: 824
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... the viewer observes a quiet pretending to play. She is meant to be an attractive object for the contemplation of the viewer. The garden the woman in Gilman's essay longingly peers out at represents freedom, that forbidden place. Parallels are drawn to The Garden of Eden, of Biblical notoriety. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was off-limits. The language chosen to describe the women moving about from behind the ... wallpaper is creeping, much like the serpent tempter. She ... longs to be in that garden, to take a bite from the fruit called freedom, but should she dare? ... ...

• Word Count: 1239
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... to act meek, docile, and willing to follow her husband's every wish. The narrator of the story appears as the ideal wife, on the outside, but on the inside, she is really an individual just yearning to make herself free. The narrator's changing view of the wallpaper symbolizes her mental state and her deterioration. Surrounded by male dominance, the narrator is married to John, a very practical physician. John loves his wife ... is sick, her husband does not believe her. He thinks she has a "temporary condition." However, because he loves her so much, he rents a very large house for the ...

• Word Count: 839
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... their demise, even before they died. According to Buddha, "Holding on to your anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else, you are the one who gets burned". The two characters constantly feuded with each other throughout the story. It began with some unmarked animals, and seeped into their daily lives. They held that anger within them, as ... they "crossed paths up in the mountains twice a day, though they never fought to the end." (158) It also seeped into their love life ... , they fought alongside each other, but not once did they speak to each ot...

• Word Count: 442
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... her frustration is her flower garden. This is where she cultivates beautiful chrysanthemums. The chrysanthemums tell a great deal about Elisa's struggle to find her own identity. She does not seem in touch with her sexuality, and she is unable to articulate the source of the dissatisfaction. The meeting with the tinker renews Elisa's feelings of femininity and sexuality as a woman. The tinker gives Elisa hope of a more fulfilling life, while ... growing chrysanthemums, "Elisa's eyes grew alert and eager"(450). The old man picks up the vibes from her infatuation with these flowers. Since o...

• Word Count: 971
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... her frustration is her flower garden. This is where she cultivates beautiful chrysanthemums. The chrysanthemums tell a great deal about Elisa's struggle to find her own identity. She does not seem in touch with her sexuality, and she is unable to articulate the source of the dissatisfaction. The meeting with the tinker renews Elisa's feelings of femininity and sexuality as a woman. The tinker gives Elisa hope of a more fulfilling life, while ... growing chrysanthemums, "Elisa's eyes grew alert and eager"(450). The old man picks up the vibes from her infatuation with these flowers. Since o...

• Word Count: 971
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

The point of views in the essays "The Myth of the Latin Woman" by Judith Ortiz Cofer, and Shirley Saad's "Amina". Cofer's essay is about a Latina women overcoming the cross-cultural stereotypes given to her by society. Whereas Saad's essay was about a women who lived a life ruled by her culture ... . Cofer states, "My mother has told me about dressing in her best party clothes on Saturday nights and going to the towns plaza to promenade with her girlfriends in front of the boys they liked" (161). Often when going to an American party, she found herself to be overdressed, when she could ... "s...

• Word Count: 524
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... outside when she stares at the yellow wallpaper. " I see her in that long shaded lane, creeping up and down all around the garden. " (Page 604) In the final scene, " I've got out at last and I've pulled off most of the paper, so you can't put me back!". (Page 606) Here the wallpaper is a symbol of the restrictions imposed on women by society. Once the wallpaper is torn down, which ... means the narrator has gained her independence at last. On ... creeping. She creeps over him; it proves to us that female win over the males. Although men and women are created differently, they also want...

• Word Count: 780
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... and then said that her husband should go with him, if only he weren't, "still " resting ."" She said this with a pause as if not to embarrass herself in front of the plumber. She was going to say something else but decided to stop herself and say "resting."" Then again, why would she have to worry about felling embarrassed, unless she was ... actually embarrassed about her life or if she say something more in the plumber. They then discovered that the leak was coming from the ground pipe in the garden, and they went out to investigate. They approached the trap to the ground pipe and the...

• Word Count: 615
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... John Steinbeck gave me a sense of envy toward men. The main reason why I get this feeling is because Elisa Allen is a hard working housewife who doesn't really have much of a life but to stay at home and tend to the garden and the house. She enjoys her garden and her husband but feels that there could be more to life. In the beginning of the story there is no hint ... of her being at all envious toward the men in the story. Then, when the big stubble-bearded man comes along in ... the wagon who fixes pots and pans, the mood changes after she starts to ... ...

• Word Count: 601
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... startle them" (Cather 1198). Cather fills this entire scene with symbolic meaning. First, the "stump" of the soldier appears, which is representative of Claude's emotions and secondly, the Armour sign over the heads of the couple is something that Cather makes sure to point out. Finally, at the end of the scene Cather puts the couple under the moonlight, which in most of Cather's stories has sexual connotation. Cather uses these symbolic moments in ... women. He always looked for an escape from his reality, especially when he was married to Enid when he found a spot "in the open, grassy...

• Word Count: 5298
• Approx Pages: 21
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... Free The role of women in society today has changed from the past; we are respected and do the same jobs as men. Women have become independent in that they can support themselves and their family. The plays that deal with the issue of woman in society and the way they are seen in society are Antigone by Sophocles and A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen. We are introduced to the ... first being a doll to becoming an individual who wants to find her own independence. Another feminine character is Antigone in Sophocles's play. Here you see a woman who goes against the laws of man to do what she...

• Word Count: 433
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... cattle. Henry has just sold some cattle and has offered to take his wife out into town to celebrate. He goes off to gather the livestock and prepare the wagon for the outing that evening. While Henry is away, a salesman comes to call on Elisa. He realizes that she has a love for her flowers ... seedlings in a pot for the salesman to take. The salesman leaves and Elisa eagerly returns to the house to get ready for her outing with Henry. While Henry and Elisa are making their way into town, she discovers the flower seedlings dumped out on the side of the road. Elisa is devastated by the wa...

• Word Count: 472
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... and Paradise Lost, Eve is unattractive from the start. She is to blame for eating the forbidden fruit and the separation between her and Adam in Book Nine. Although many are not fond of Eve, present day, she is respected in the history of women for her independence and curiosity in the Garden of Eden. Eve is aroused by the forbidden fruit because of its appetizing looks and her curiosity. She ... feels that if she eats the fruit, she will be wise, maybe even wiser than Adam. Although God commanded ... her and Adam to avoid the tree, the couple devours the fruit anyways. After the two e...

• Word Count: 1176
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... -which have not been acquired by one's own effort. And, moreover, to succeed, the artist must possess the courageous soul" (63). Although Edna and Mademoiselle share many characteristics that may possibly contribute to their future paths, they have one stifling difference; Mademoiselle Reisz possesses the wisdom to live the way that she does, Edna Pontellier does not. Mademoiselle Reisz's most drastic influence upon ... Edna is the recognition of her awakening. Edna tries to explain this to her flabbergasted husband that has no hint of understanding the changes that his wife is undergoin...

• Word Count: 1597
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... 's attention to her young son's hurtful question as well as making a strong and enduring statement. The struggle of being a woman who has to face these phallocentric issues are all very obvious in the past three essays. An essay is comparable to a scattered puzzle. There are many pieces but not everything is in its rightful place. Carol Kleiman however was very successful at building ... image she projects comes directly from her personal experiences. Many people in society don't realize the importance of maintaining equality. With her keen understanding and bold actions, Kleiman has ma...

• Word Count: 645
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... her husband and keeping the house clean. Elisa Allen is the most interesting character in the story. She is intelligent, strong, and has dreams. She dreams of being something more than just a common house wife. This is proven by her asking about the fights in town. Leon Lewis states,"Elisa needs something more in her life than a neat house and a good garden.", showing her ... intentions (Lewis). Knowing that she may not like the fights, she is still interested in them ... is brought out using characters with strong manly features. Women have their place and men have theirs. Men do all ...

• Word Count: 658
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... writing and speaking about women's rights to vote and prohibition. Nellie McClung's two priorities were temperance and the vote. Nellie was an author and teacher; she had published 16 different pieces of writing, including novels, fiction, essays, autobiographies and speeches. She also spoke at many meetings. Within 20 years, McClung spoke at over 400 public meetings. She also wrote a weekly column ... came to be known as "The Famous Five" (also called, "The Valiant Five"), they launched the "Person's Case", which is a famous case that decided women were eligible to sit in the Canadian ...

• Word Count: 860
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... hurt by outsiders, she would like to be looked on as a beautiful woman, but she lacks the confidence to open up and show her hidden beauty. Just like Elisa, the chrysanthemums have a protective gate. She grew her flowers in a "wire fence that protected her flower garden from cattle and dogs and chickens" (247). Elisa feared for herself and her flowers that their sweetness ... could be damaged by outside influences. Thus, she had gates built around them both for protection. The chrysanthemums and Elisa both had a unique beauty that was not apparent to everyone at ... not forthcoming at ...

• Word Count: 983
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School