Trapped In John Steinbeck's 'The Chrysanthemums'

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Trapped The story “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck is written in the 1930’s, a time when men and women had specific male and female roles that were instilled by what society deemed suitable. Steinbeck is writing about a woman, Elisa Allen who is living a pretty “closed in” life. She wants more, is even longing for more out of life, but is being oppressed by the roles formed by society. Consequently, giving up on her self and accepting her role in the world and letting go of her hopes for a more fulfilling life. One way in which it seems that Elisa’s world is small and she is being oppressed, is with the opening description. “The high grey-flannel fog of winter closed off the Salinas Valley from the sky and from all the rest of the…show more content…
It is in her garden that Elisa lights up with thought of possibly, just a little more from life. Just like the chrysanthemums Elisa blossoms, while she interacts with the Tinker, a wandering salesman. As he the Tinker Tries to get Elisa to give him some work, sharpening scissors or mending some pots, “her eyes hardened with resistance”(689). “Oh, no, she said quickly” (689). “Nothing like that” (689). The Tinker, being the salesman that he is, finds away to soften her when he spots the chrysanthemums. “What’s them plants ma’am?” (690) Elisa is overjoyed with this outside interest in her flowers. When the he notices the flowers it’s like he notices her now too. She is connected to the chrysanthemums. “ You can feel how it is”(691). “They never make a mistake”( 691). “They’re with the plant”(691). He starts talking about the flowers and how beautiful they are, and this makes Elisa feel beautiful and valued. A stranger is noticing her “place”, her hard work. When he offers to take the chrysanthemums out of the garden, off the farm, some place to grow, she is elated. “Beautiful” (690). “Oh beautiful” (690). She is now filled with hope. It’s like she is getting out. Apart of her is spreading and growing. She starts shedding her gardening “costume”, gloves, men’s hat, that was covering her up and we begin to see her as pretty. “She tore off the battered hat and shook…show more content…
“Far ahead on the road Elisa saw a dark speck” (693). “She knew” (693). Here she sees her chrysanthemums on the road. Thrown away, they didn’t even make it off her road. They would never grow, just like her. Elisa is shattered by the heartless manner in which the Tinker had treated her “glimmer of hope” by not even taking the trouble to hide the flowers. In this instance Elisa truly recognizes her place in society. Elisa now sadly realizes that she can never fulfill her wish to be anything more than what she is already, a housewife with a hobby. She realizes that she would just have to except her life as it is. “It will have to be enough if we have wine” (694). “It will be plenty” (694). She hides her face from Henry and begins to “crying- weakly- like an old woman” (694). She hides her face so her husband doesn’t see her as weak, when she is upset. Elisa gives up on her self here and just goes with what society and her husband expect of her, instead of pushing for what she wants, what would make her happy, freedom to
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