The Chrysanthemums Gender
The short story, “The Chrysanthemums,” was written in 1937, by American author John Steinbeck. The short story centers around a thirty five year old housewife named, Elisa. Elisa works frequently in her luscious garden, often tending to her Chrysanthemums. Her marriage to her husband, Henry, appears to very bland and lacking any passion. While working in her garden one afternoon, a fix-it man in a covered wagon arrives to her and her husband’s home, asking if there is any work he can do for them in exchange for pay. Elisa is intrigued by the tinker and strikes up a conversation with him. They begin to talk about her Chrysanthemums; he claims that he has a customer who is interested in raising Chrysanthemums. Elisa gives him some of the flowers to take to his customer. After the tinker leaves, Elisa and Henry go to dinner and Elisa notices the discarded flowers on the side of the road where the tinker left them. Elisa then begins to cry, which goes unnoticed by her husband.
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In “The Chrysanthemums,” John Steinbeck showcases the issues surrounding gender inequality that was prevalent during the 1930’s, as well as the importance of self fulfillment to one’s own personal
In “The Chrysanthemums,” John Steinbeck showcases the issues surrounding gender inequality that was prevalent during the 1930’s, as well as the importance of self fulfillment to one’s own personal