... John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums." At first glance John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" seems 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 ...

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

John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums", at first glance, seems to be a story about a woman and her passion for gardening. After the initial reading, however, this story's plot screams feminism. In Steinbeck's portrayal of the central character Elisa Allen, Elisa's appearance, actions, and speech depict the frustration women felt in the 1930's. These actions and feelings are Steinbeck's examples of the external and internal conflicts of one woman, Elisa, ... 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)....

• Word Count: 927
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Characters in "The Chrysanthemums," by John Steinbeck play a very large role in bringing the theme of the story to light. Steinbeck uses these characters to show how women were oppressed in the early twentieth century. There are only three main characters in the story. Each one has his or her different personalities and giving us different views of how society see women. The Tinker or unnamed man, Henry ... . He is hard working and speaks to Elisa with respect. He is however a little condescending to her as he says "'I wish you'd work out in the orchard'" (Steinbeck 582). Knowing she couldn't ...

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

... John Steinbeck's short story, "The Chrysanthemums," the author uses the flower to symbolize the main character, Elisa. Like the title flower, Elisa is soft and delicate with a tough, protective shell. She worries for herself and her flowers that an insensitive person will be able to get inside the gates and wreak havoc among her feelings and flowers. Both the woman and the chrysanthemums have a unique beauty. Both the woman and the ... her newest under-clothing and her nicest stockings and the dress which was the symbol of her prettiness" (252). Following getting dressed, Elisa conscienti...

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

The Symbolism of the Tinker in Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" (reprinted in Edgar V. Roberts, Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing, 6th Ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2001, 447-454) is about a proud, strong woman named Elisa Allen, yet she feels frustrated with her present life. Her frustration stems from not having a child, and her husband's failure to admire her romantically as a woman. The ... a more fulfilling life, while providing her with a renewed sense of self. In the portion of the story where Elisa is talking to the tinker, Steinb...

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

The Symbolism of the Tinker in Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" (reprinted in Edgar V. Roberts, Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing, 6th Ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2001, 447-454) is about a proud, strong woman named Elisa Allen, yet she feels frustrated with her present life. Her frustration stems from not having a child, and her husband's failure to admire her romantically as a woman. The ... a more fulfilling life, while providing her with a renewed sense of self. In the portion of the story where Elisa is talking to the tinker, Steinb...

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

John Steinbeck's short story, "The Chrysanthemums," 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. When her husband leaves to tend to his cattle, a big, "stubble-bearded" (Steinbeck) man approaches on his wagon. He never gives his name, and Steinbeck only refers to him as "the man." She becomes...

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

... from reaching her full potential. This story line strikes a strong comparison to John Steinbeck's, "The Chrysanthemums". Using characterization, both authors created women who have a desire to be more than what society expects or allows. The characterizations go from the women being saddened by their lives, to each one coming to a personal ... for Elisa, she'd allowed her husband to incorrectly anticipate her idea of an evening in town, is demonstrates how she has accepted living under the labeled role of women in that time period. Elisa and Louise felt as if they lived their life to ple...

• Word Count: 634
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... history women have often been portrayed as the subordinates of men or the weaker sex. As a result of these assumptions held by society, women have been working hard to disassociate themselves from these stereotypes and become more independent with their lives. Many famous writers have addressed this issue in their novels or short stories. John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" describes Elisa Allen's frustration with her ... marriage. Elisa feels a sense of isolation from the world and desires to express herself as a woman, and to live a fuller more passionate life. The Chrysanthemums th...

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

The tone in The Chrysanthemums, by 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 talk ...

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

"Women should be kept barefoot and pregnant," was a common blunt saying in the past that stated, what was believed to be, a woman's domestic role. The general household responsibilities of women have drastically changed throughout history, let alone, in the last century. John Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath during a critical time of the world. This country was undergoing serious transformations in just about everyway possible (market strategies and ... foreign affairs,) role of a woman was also enduring change. The purpose of this essay is to explain how Ma Joad's character was an example...

• Word Count: 1014
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... live in Manhattan. In 2008, Leguizamo received the Rita Moreno HOLA Award for Excellence from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA). He was also a recipient of the 2011 Made in NY Award from the City of New York. Freak is a 1998 film directed by Spike Lee. The film is a live performance of John Leguizamo's one man show of the same name. Freak was semi-autobiographical as ... he would talk about many aspects of his life. In the routine, he also talks about family members such ... shift from his deaf, gay uncle to a shouting Indian merchant to his father so flawl...

• Word Count: 704
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... been living life normally, until he had converted. Suddenly, everything changed; happiness had been replaced with unexpected oppression. Serving God became the primary priority, and atoning for the "mistake" they had committed with the birth of John was the other. Therefore, John has to carry the burden of having to live life with many restrictions, and therefore leaves him with problems he incapable of dealing with. Another ... on women. He considers them as "trouble" and merely standing next to a woman would be equal to committing a crime. John, on the other hand, had met a beautiful ...

• Word Count: 610
• Approx Pages: 2

... women faced while seeking mental and/or physical freedom. As this for some would be portrayed as a thriller, it is clearly a standpoint on the limits and holds women faced when not in the norm, and finding herself in a creative way. Her husband, John, being quite the example of a dominating spouse that holds control and power when it comes to his wife is one of ... the reasons why this would be considered as a topic of feminism. Throughout the narrative you see classic examples of domestic over powering, such as when Jane ... says "John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in ...

• Word Count: 870
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... ;Man knows best,' and 'morality comes in clothes on.' These beliefs were quite common during these times when the man was assumed to be the provider, the leader, and the protector. The narrator in "The Yellow Wallpaper" shows a certain respect for her husband, John, throughout the story. Although, in her mind, she believes her own thoughts to be more relevant than Johns at time, she ... voices that he knows what is best for her. She is not to work on her writing or talk about her condition. "but John says the very worst thing I can do is to think about my condition, and I confess it...

• Word Count: 990
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... his mistake, though, he and Fox get back together to head to the studio chief's office. The men's business remains intact and on track, despite the female assault. However, the male protagonist in Oleanna would not be so lucky. Unlike Bobby Gould in Speed-the-Plow or James Lingk in Glengarry Glen Ross, John the professor had no sexual intentions involving his female counterpart. However, Carol ... over him. Subsequently, Carol organizes a "group- of like-minded students and writes a complaint to the university tenure board. The board then begins an investigation of John in which the appe...

• Word Count: 1694
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... a man can significantly affect a woman's life. Gilman successfully portrays this point in her article. The story starts out with a young woman (the narrator) and her husband (John) traveling to the country for overcoming her "temporary nervous depression" (page 595). The narrator is not allowed to do anything but stare at the yellow wallpaper, which pushes her deeper into madness. She tries to convince her husband but ... he does not listen and just tells her to go to sleep. It is true that men play the dominant roles prior to the twentieth century. Throughout the story, we can see John...

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

... treat women. In "The Yellow Wallpaper" the role of the man, John, is clearly that of dominance, while the role of his wife is very domesticated and submissive. It is their coherence to these roles that eventually drive the narrator to insanity. John, the narrator's husband, plays the male role in the story. John is treated respectfully. John shows his dominance over the author. He is portrayed as the decision maker. "John is a physician," and ... not just a physician but a "physician of high standing"(92). In addition to providing for the family, John is also "very careful and loving" t...

• Word Count: 1039
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... an oppressive world, where a woman's value was found in her uterus and her submissiveness, or opt to insanity. In Charlotte Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper," the narrator's only triumph from an oppressive society is to become insane. John begins the process of transforming his wife into a submissive woman by physically imprisoning her. By keeping her in a room, he will always know where ... God. However, the narrator feels that her writing may save her from her nervous breakdown; it actually brings happiness. The one thing that relieves the boredom, John "hates to have me write a word" (2...

• Word Count: 870
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... knows that she is not quite mentally well. She believes that she only suffers from "temporary nervous depression - a slight hysterical tendency." She believes that her "case is not serious!" The woman's husband, John, is a physician and does not really believe that she is ill. With all good intentions, he controls her life and makes all decisions. He believes that he always knows ... 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 and sunshine gal...

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

... believes she is ill although her physician husband believes otherwise. John, her husband, seems to be more of a father than a husband, and takes on the role of the dominant male which is common for this time period. Although the narrator feels desolate and frantic about things, John tells her that there is no reason for her feelings. ... a child, but inside she suffers. She begins to feel inadequate. She feels that she should be "a good girl" and appreciate the protective love John offers to her. "He takes care from me, and I feel ungrateful not to value it more." In telling her to keep w...

• Word Count: 728
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... me that men, especially Physicians, were that ignorant to a woman's physical and mental needs back then. The narrator is obviously suffering from a form of depression, probably "Baby blues". John keeps her in this yellow wallpapered bedroom where the wallpaper expresses itself more than the narrator is allowed. John never once calls his wife by her given name. Always "darling" or "little girl". What must he ... . When she sees the woman in the wallpaper apparently trying to free herself this was a turning point for the narrator. Although, it was definitely in the wrong direction of menta...

• Word Count: 274
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

Throughout Arthur Miller's The Crucible John Proctor evolved from a good person with a few flaws to an even better person. He didn't have much power over anything except for his wife and Abigail, who he had ... man had it wasn't really power. Most of all which is very important he has power over important situations in his and his wife's life. I believe John Proctor became a better person and had some power throughout the play. At first I didn't believe that Proctor loved his wife. He cheated on her with Abigail. You don't do that to someone you love. ... 's like saying she is a women so she...

• Word Count: 654
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... out there. As her breakdown approaches, she locks John out of the room. She does this to prove to John that he is wrong about her; she wants to drive him away. Her isolation led her to tear the wallpaper off the wall, freeing the trapped women. John faints after seeing the wallpaper and his wife crawling around the room. Perhaps John fainting shows how he couldn't deal with his ... wife's condition. However, having seen her in that state made him faint from the reality of her illness. The man fainting at the end shows the strength of a woman. Ironically, fainting is ... from her husban...

• Word Count: 1090
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... . In the beginning of the story, the narrator appears sane and believable, but as the story continues, the reader realizes that she is unreliable because she withholds and confuses information. By the end, the structure-short paragraphs, fragmented and disjointed thought patterns- reflects the narrator's mental disorder. Through the revelations contained in the journal, the reader is allowed an intimate view of the narrator's gradual mental breakdown. The journal begins when John and the narrator ... move into a temporary home John has procured to provide the narrator the break from rout...

• Word Count: 728
• Approx Pages: 3