Feminism in John Steinbecks The Chrysanthemums :: Feminism Feminist Women Criticism

Feminism in John Steinbecks The Chrysanthemums At first descry John Steinbecks 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. Elisas actions and feelings reflect her struggle as a woman purifying 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 discharge out to dinner with her husband. Steinbeck carefully narrates this womans frequent shifts between femininity and masculinity over a short period of time. In the first step of the story Elisa is emasculated by the description of her clothing. She wears a mans black hat pulled low d hold over her eyes, clodhopper shoes, a figured print dress almost completely covered by a big corduroy apron (paragraph 5). When Elisas 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 Elisas 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 untold rather go to the movies than go see the fights, she wouldnt like the fights at all (paragraph 21). Elisa is taken aback with her own submissiveness and apace becomes preoccupied with her flowers as soon as her husband leaves. When the muscae volitantes 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 other strange man and becomes irritated. When he persists in asking her she replys I tell you I have nothing like that for you to do (paragraph 46). The drifter mentions Elisas chrysanthemums and she immediately loosens up as the irritation and resistance melt(ed) from her face (paragraph 51). The drifter feigns great i nterest in Elisas chrysanthemums and asks her umteen questions about them. He tells her he knows a lady who said to him if you ever come across some nice chrysanthemums I wish youd try to get me a few seeds (paragraph 56). Elisa is overjoyed by any interest in her flowers and gives the man chrysanthemum sprouts to take to his friend.