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Feminism in John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums."

            Feminism in 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 shifts between femininity and masculinity over a short period of time. In the opening of the story Elisa is emasculated by the description of her clothing. She wears "a man's black hat pulled low down over her eyes, clodhopper shoes, a figured print dress almost completely covered by a big corduroy apron- (paragraph 5). When Elisa's husband Henry comes over and compliments her garden and ability to grow things Elisa is smug with him and very proud of her skill with the flowers. Her "green thumb" makes her an equal in her own eyes. When Elisa's husband asks her if she would like to go to dinner her feminine side comes out. She is excited to go eat at a restaurant and states that she would much rather go to the movies than go see the fights, she "wouldn't like the fight's" at all (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 drifter 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 strange man and becomes irritated. When he persists in asking her she reply's "I tell you I have nothing like that for you to do" (paragraph 46). The drifter mentions Elisa's chrysanthemums and she immediately loosens up as "the irritation and resistance melt(ed) from her face" (paragraph 51).


Essays Related to Feminism in John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums."

1. John Steinbeck

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. ... Elisa does not seem to cultivate her chrysanthemums in a way that is gentle and loving. ... He asks for a few sprouts to take to a customer, a lady down the road with a nice garden, but no chrysanthemums. ... Steinbeck ends "The Chrysanthemums" with Elisa Allen, a strong capable woman, accepting exclusion from personal, social, and sexual fulfillment by society's concept of women in ...

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

2. The Chrysanthemums

In the story "The Chrysanthemums- by John Steinbeck, the chrysanthemums symbolize Elisa's confidence and her feminist side. ... However, when she is not with the chrysanthemum or feels disconnected with the chrysanthemums, she will not be proud. ... This shows that she feels the confidence when she is with her chrysanthemums. ... However, the man seeing the chrysanthemum starts talking about it. ... The man's praising and taking of her chrysanthemums has dramatically boosted Elisa confidence and her feminism. ...

  • Word Count: 625
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

3. X-women

Nick Joaquin's "The Summer Solstice-, Alice Walker's "Everyday Use-, and John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums- challenge us to understand the meaning behind them and to give importance to the female protagonists. ... In her subconscious mind rests that sense of feminism. ... A woman trapped in the monotony of her life is the main character of "The Chrysanthemums-. Elisa Allen lives on a farm and does best in gardening, specifically, the chrysanthemums. ... Thinking the peddler was really interested in the chrysanthemums, she gave him a pot. ...

  • Word Count: 1260
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

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