The Chrysanthemums gives us more of an insight into Steinbeck's life. The Chrysanthemums setting is similar to Salinas in which Steinbeck was born and raised. Elisa Allen is said to resemble Steinbeck’s first wife. Elisa, like Carol, was talented and beautiful, but she was also the more “masculine” one. It is not until the climax of the story that the reader begins to notice Elisa’s true pain and need for her own self-identity. Elisa Allen is a middle-aged housewife who also has a passion for growing chrysanthemums Elisa’s passionate involvement with the process of planting becomes an expression of all the suppressed romance in her life” “She is a strong, childless woman of thirty-five that has sublimated her maternal instincts by producing remarkable flowers'' Nevertheless, “the plants and flowers cannot compare to her beauty Steinbeck also uses the chrysanthemums as a symbol to portray the struggle women go through in a male-dominated society. Up to now, people still feel intimidated by women who portray their femininity and strong characters as well. In some places, women are still being treated as the inferior sex. As a matter of fact, the word “strong” is used on several occasions to illustrate her physical and psychological attributes. He does a great job portraying ideas such as patriarchy, gender stereotyping, and femininity. Gender stereotyping is also depicted since the couple does not have children. It becomes even more difficult for her as a woman since no sign of a child represents infertility as a woman. Initially, they were not allowed to voice their opinions nor were they allowed to discard their female roles. Extremely intelligent women such as Elisa are given negative treatment and reminded to play their roles as women. The flowers that are planted by the roadside courtesy of the tinker symbolize that she is getting in touch with her feminine side. The present-day is filled with women like her. They have interesting ideas that they may want to incorporate into modern-day ideas. They owe their freedom to the women who fought for equality. As a woman, Elisa had no other option but to stay in her marriage even though she describes her husband as boring. Society does not allow her to walk out on her marriage nor seek satisfaction elsewhere. This action places her in a vulnerable situation as she gets to fall in love with another man.
December 20th, 1968, John Ernst Steinbeck died of heart disease and congestive heart failure in New York City. He was cremated and his ashes accompanied his family’s tombstones in Salinas. John Steinbeck will always be best known for his work during the Great Depression and the work of immigrants. Steinbeck created fiction through his local knowledge. He showed much affection for those who struggled, those who got everything they had taken away from them, for migrant workers for those with hope, and those of the transcending class. Steinbeck gave many crucial elements of American life and culture a voice. Steinbeck is considered such a great writer because of the quality of his writings and how realistic and how many agreed with his views on issues he goes in-depth with symbols that move the hearts and souls of America. Not only his form of writing but the things he wrote about the journey of immigrants, workers, of the poor, agricultural workers those who don't usually take a stand. When Steinbeck received the Nobel Prize for literature in 1962 he gained more attention from the audiences. Steinbeck’s stories are frequently required to be read in many high schools throughout America Canada and the United Kingdom.
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The Chrysanthemums’ Symbolism: Critical Analysis Essay.
(2023, March 01). Edubirdie. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://edubirdie.com/examples/the-chrysanthemums-symbolism-critical-analysis-essay/
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The Chrysanthemums’ Symbolism: Critical Analysis Essay [Internet]. Edubirdie.
2023 Mar 01 [cited 2024 Nov 21].
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