The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck

The predicament of women had often been a popular topic of literature. Throughout history, the men dominated, overshadowing women in the process. The male person sex had al instructions been recognized as superior charm the female sex was perceived as inferior thus, they are not given the same opportunities. The social distinction between males and females had been documented in numerous pieces of literature. Literature often decorated the injustice and par women were subjected to while quick in a patriarchal auberge.One of the pieces of literature that appearing the difficulty of be a adult female in a mans gentleman is the short story entitled The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck. In this literary piece, Steinbeck shows the struggle of a woman to watch herself as she attempts to assume a pertinent role in society. This is the reason wherefore one connoisseur said this almost the story It is a delicate, indirect handling of a womans emotion, particularly the difficul ty of a woman in finding a creative, significant role in a male-dominated society. The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck features enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assay Allen, a 35-year- white-haired married woman living in a ranch with her husband Henry (Steinbeck). Initially, the story appears simple enough it advertises the story of a woman who is passionate about flowers and takes pride in caring for them. However, a closer look would reveal that the woman in question is in the midst of an identity crisis. She is a female who longs to be pertinent in a society where only the men are considered relevant. She hopes to become relevant through her skills in planting chrysanthemums, but in the end her essays were futile.enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assays attempts to be of significance are shown early in the story. enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assay is alive(predicate) that it is the men who are significant in society. She also knows that the only way she could be significant was to assume a male persona, or at least try to fit herself in mannish mould. In the story, she attempts to be significant through her skill in planting chrysanthemums. This is the reason why the first description of Elisa is masculine her appearance hints her desire to someway fit in a male-dominated realm. In the beginning of the story, she is wearing a figured print dress, but that powder-puff garment is overshadowed by masculine elements.These elements include a mans black hat, a capacious corduroy apron with four big pockets and heavy leather gloves (Steinbeck). Her fashion of fertilisation illustrates her efforts to be masculine, to have a place in a mans world. Elisas masculine manner of dressing is supported by her masculine actions. When she was attending to the chrysanthemums, she was exerting great effort. She was described as over-eager, over-powerful (Steinbeck). It was said that the plant stems were too small and easy for her energy (Steinbe ck).In a way, her movements reflected the need to fold up herself she wanted to prove that she is just as ex comprise as men are. When she was eagerly gardening, she looked at the direction where her husband and his clients were. The situation that she looked in their direction meant that she wanted them to see her and what she could do. Through the eagerness in her work with the chrysanthemums, Elisa sought to have the men realize that she could be significant just like them. The response of Elisas husband to her plants mirrors the response of society to women and their efforts.After his meeting with his clients, Henry comes up to Elisa and comments about her new batch of chrysanthemums. Upon Henrys words, she straightened her back and there was smugness in her reply (Steinbeck). The gesture of straightening her back seems to be an assertion that she was responsible for the supremacy of her plants. The tone of her reply affirms that she is proud of her achievement in planting. For Elisa, her accomplishment with her chrysanthemums is her way of life to deposit a significant contribution in society. However, Henry currently undermines her efforts.He said I wish youd work out in the orchard and raise some apples that big (Steinbeck). For Henry, flowers are irrelevant. He believes training apples would be better and more important. His comment seems to imply that Elisas efforts are not good enough to society. Instead of being discourage at Henrys response, she answers him with the conviction that she can raise apples. Elisa says, Maybe I could do it, too (Steinbeck). In this instance, Elisa asserts equality between men and women. Henry suggested that she should raise apples rather than chrysanthemums, and she took it as a challenge.She believes that she can do it as well. When the repairman tells Elisa that his life is not fit for a woman, Elisa asked How do you know? How can you tell? (Steinbeck). For Elisa, women are just as capable as men. As if to p rove that men and women can be equals, she tells the repairman I can charge scissors, too. And I can beat the dents out of little pots. I could show you what a woman might do (Steinbeck). Later on in the story, the identity of Elisa shifts. The story begins with an Elisa who is rather masculine and who asserts herself to be capable of activities usually attributed to men.She seeks to contribute to society with her ability to grow chrysanthemums. By the latter part of the story, the readers can see a different Elisa she no longer resembles the Elisa earlier in the story. This quantify, Elisa embraces her feminine side. She dressed up with her best underwear and stockings, as well as a dress that was a symbol of her prettiness (Steinbeck). She styled her hair and she throw up on makeup. Elisa then assumes a completely female role, a new identity different to masculine identity she portrayed in the beginning.In this instance, the reader sees the two different identities of Elisa. Th e dichotomy between the two identities illustrate Elisas search for her self in a society where being a woman is extremely difficult. The search for the self is posed with the dilemma of either staying true to ones feminine personality or to take a more masculine stance to be recognized in society. In the end, Elisa is faced with the reality of male dominance in society. When she and her husband were driving to dinner, she sees the chrysanthemums she gave to the repairman discarded on the road.It was through her skill and talent in growing the chrysanthemums that Elisa wished to make her significant contribution to society. In fact, the flowers themselves symbolized a womans effort to make herself relevant in a society eclipsed by men. However, the snub for the chrysanthemums shows that a womans effort to assert her importance in society is futile. Because of her frustration over the neglect of her flowers, Eliza cried weaklylike an old woman (Steinbeck). In the end, she gave in t o her emotions, just like what is expected of women in general.Her battle to make herself relevant in a mans world ended in defeat. The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck reveals how women are affect by the patriarchal society in which they live, and how their struggle to make themselves relevant in society leads to the search to their own identity. Steinbeck indirectly reveals the plight of women during his time through the storys protagonist Elisa Allen. Elisa struggles to find herself as she is caught between showing her feminine self and assuming a more masculine stance to establish her worth in society.Throughout the story, she repeatedly asserts the fact that she can also do what men can do. However, she seeks to be more relevant to society through her skill in gardening, especially in growing chrysanthemums. In the end, her efforts were worthless. Just like the plants she gave to the repairman, her efforts did not tote up to anything. In the end, she failed to make herself re levant, and proved how difficult it is for a woman to be significant in a male-dominated society. Work Cited Steinbeck, John. The Chrysanthemums. 1938. 20 Oct. 2008 < http//www. nbu. bg/webs/amb/american/4/steinbeck/chrysanthemums. htm>.