The Chrysanthemums By John Steinbeck Analysis - 935 Words

In John Steinbeck‘s short story â€Å"The Chrysanthemums † Elisa Gives off the impression that she is not satisfied with her life. She can’t put a finger on her source of discomfort, but knows that she is not quite satisfied with how her life is continuing. Elisa’s husband doesn’t give her the proper attention she is craving, so elisa turns to her only sense of compassion; her garden. Elisa uses her beloved chrysanthemums to express her inner feelings about what it’s like to truly care for something. Elisa’s garden brings her joy and passion, hence the reasoning she is always spending her time there. Elisa realizes that in order to be happy with your life, you have to deal with the pain along the way. Throughout the story, Elisa struggles to†¦show more content†¦She is pushed into being dependent on her husband and the only way out is her garden. Elisa does not reveal herself to anybody. She is very quiet and keeps to herself a nd her garden until she meets the tinker. When Elisa meets the tinker she begins to let a little part of her personality go. â€Å"Elisa took off her gloves and stuffed them in her apron pocket with her scissors† (BL, 209). Elisa taking off her gloves symbolizes her expressing herself. She is now exposed to another human and the outside world. Elisa is also interacting like she never would typically do. Elisa begins to open up to the tinker and feel what it feels like to interact further than her usual conversations. She begins to reveal herself and allow him to see a side of her that is typically hidden. Another piece of symbolism in the story is when the tinker leaned over Elisas fence. This symbolised trust between Elisa and the tinker because Elisa does not let anybody get close to her, or her garden. Elisa soon removes her hat and that symbolises that she is confident and found a little stretch of freedom. When the tinker realizes the beauty of Elisa flowers, a new sense of passion pours out of Elisa. She feels excited and full of joy because her dedication and hard work was finally noticed. Toward the end of the story, Elisa gives the tinker the chrysanthemums. This symbolizing trust between them. When ELisa gave the tinker her flowers, she also gave him a piece ofShow MoreRelatedThe Chrysanthemums By John Steinbeck Analysis949 Words   |  4 PagesBiography John Ernst Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California, which is where the short story, â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† is set in 1902. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature and his held in high regard, but not quite as high as Faulkner and Hemingway. Steinbeck died of a heart attack in Salinas, California in 1963 (Levant). Overview Steinbeck published the short story The Chrysanthemums in 1937 and included as part of his collection The Long Valley the following year. In the story, Henry AllenRead MoreAnalysis Of Chrysanthemums By John Steinbeck971 Words   |  4 PagesChrysanthemums† has many different ideas of what women’s roles are in today’s society. I think one of the key themes is gender inequality. Elisa is a passionate, independent, and a beautiful person inside and out. And no matter what she does or says, her husband will never see her for more than an object. Because the story is written through Elisa’s point of view and is set in 1938. Because of this, it really portrays where women stood at that time. Taking place during winter in Salinas Valley,Read MoreAnalysis Of John Steinbeck s The Chrysanthemums 1256 Words   |  6 PagesComparative Essay In â€Å"Chrysanthemums† john Steinbeck, the author, focuses on Elisa Allen, one of the main characters. She is presented as weak in that her daily activity consisted of tending her garden of chrysanthemums; Steinbeck focuses on how they provide insight into Elisa and how she relates to them, religiously. He implies that even though she fits a weak character, there are places in the narrative at the beginning that suggest some strong points and her longing towards the end. There areRead MoreAnalysis Of John Steinbeck s The Chrysanthemums 1532 Words   |  7 PagesJohn Steinbeck’s short story â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† shows a time when women are controlled and restrained to a traditional lifestyle. It portrays a struggle for equality that is played out through the eyes of the third person narrator. In telling the story, the narrator depicts the story through speech, actions and appearances of the main character, Elisa. Her place in the story is that in a w orld of masculinity during the times of the Great Depression and a fight to keep a bit of her happinessRead MoreAn Analysis Of John Steinbeck s The Chrysanthemums 1025 Words   |  5 PagesRichard Courtney ENG 1110 December 22, 2016 An Unsatisfied Life John Steinbeck’s â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† is a short story about a woman named Elisa and her unhappiness with her life. She is a woman living in a man’s world in the late 1930’s. Elisa and her husband, Henry, are childless. She is confined to a lonely life where she cares for her husband, their farm house, and her precious chrysanthemums. Throughout the story Steinbeck indicates Elisa’s struggle as a woman who wants more out of her lifeRead MoreSymbolism in The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck Essay1547 Words   |  7 PagesSymbolism in The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck The Chrysanthemums, one of John Steinbecks masterpieces, describes a lonely farmers wife, Elisa Allen. Elisa Allens physical appearance is very mannish yet still allows a hint of a feminine side to peek through. John Steinbeck brings symbolism into play to represent Elisa Allens frustrations and hidden passions. Isolation is another representation through symbolism found in The Chrysanthemums. Elisas failing detached marriage is representedRead MoreThe Chrysanthemums By John Steinbeck982 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Chrysanthemums† is a short story written by John Steinbeck. The story was originally published in 1937 before later being released as a part of his The Long Valley collection. This is an important story as it expresses women in a way that is more realistic, showing their true boredom, ambition, and capabilities. Some scholars interpreted this story differently, but C. Kenneth Pellow interprets it as â€Å"radically feministic.† The Great Depression was fi nally ending and women’s rights were risingRead MoreEssay on Analysis of The Chrysanthemums1139 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis of The Chrysanthemums The short story The Chrysanthemums gives insight into the life of its author. John Steinbeck was born on February 27, 1902, in Salinas, California. The locale of the story is of key resemblance to the Salinas in which Steinbeck was born and bread. Salinas was a typical American small town, [differing] only in location and a few distinctive features (McCarthy 3). The protagonist of this story, Elisa Allen, also resembles Steinbecks first wife. SteinbeckRead MoreCharacter Analysis the Chrysanthemums1220 Words   |  5 PagesEngl. 1302 April 15, 2013 Paper 1 Character Analysis â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† by John Steinbeck John Steinbeck was born in 1902 and lived during what is said to be the most troubled time in American history. Steinbeck was alive during the Dust Bowl paired with the Great Depression, which is believed to be the reason for his almost melancholiac tone in some of his works but he seemed a very diverse writer. Along with â€Å"The Chrysanthemums†, Steinbeck is the author of the well-known and famous novelRead More The Chrysanthemums Essay1649 Words   |  7 PagesJohn Steinbeck’s, The Chrysanthemums, was published in 1938 in a book of short stories, entitled The Long Valley. The Chrysanthemums has been a rather powerful draw for scholars because of its wide gap for interpretations and analysis of its main protagonist character, Elisa Allen and also the unique descriptions used to portray the deeper meaning behind the setting of the story. Themes of sexuality, oppression of women, as well as other numerous types of conflict portrayed in this rather somber

Essay about Marriage Without Love in Henrik Ibsens A...

Marriage Without Love in Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House In his play, A Doll?s House, Henrik Ibsen shows a marriage built only on appearances, and not love. Both Nora the wife, and Torvald the husband, pretend they are in love throughout the story. However, love should be patient and kind, and their love is anything but that. Nora treats her husband as a father figure. Her feelings towards Torvald are more about dependence than love. Torvald treats Nora like a child or a pet. He gets very angry and frustrated with Nora, and he does not truly love her. True love is perfect, not angry, controlling, and dependent as Nora and Torvald are to each other. Throughout the story, Torvald is constantly angry with Nora. He also†¦show more content†¦ruined my whole future.?(Ibsen 916). Torvald has no compassion for her. He does not care that she took out the loan to save his life. Torvald just wants to order Nora around. His love is not true, but it is an angry petty obsession. Several critics also saw Torvald as controlling and obsessive. Each critic noticed the change in Torvald?s personality when something was not perfect in his home. Clement Scott said, ?Helmer is very angry indeed. He forgets all his affection and endearment; he can only think of his personality injury? (222). Scott also said, ?Helmer?s attitude towards his child-wife is natural but unreasonable? (222). Besides being angry towards Nora, Torvald is also controlling. Forbidding Nora from eating candy reveals Torvald?s controlling side. Edmund Gosse said, ? Her doctor and her husband have told her not to give way to her passion for ?candy? in any of its seductive forms (220). He forbids Nora from eating candy because he does not want her teeth to become rotten. This shows how shallow he is. Torvald is so obsessed with Nora being perfect, that he really is not in love with her. ? Helmer only sees the attractiveness of this love which lies intoxicatingly over her silent farewell?(Salome 22 9). Torvald is mean, shallow, and does not truly love his wife. Not only does Torvald treat Nora badly, but he also treats her like a child. He speaks down to her. Torvald has many pet names for Nora. He says things to her like ?When did my little squirrelShow MoreRelatedRights of Women in the Nineteenth Century and in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House1103 Words   |  5 PagesHenrik Ibsen, who was born in Norway but made his name internationally, was a painter as well as the one of most famous playwrights during the period of Realism. Ibsen’s plays are well-known by the themes of domestic and political issues and conflict in nineteenth century. Scholars call it â€Å"Ibsen’s problems play† (Henrik Ibsen, 650). In addition, in Ibsen’s plays, the general topics that are usually discussed are hypocrisy of the society, restriction of women, and the self-sacrifice. Under theRead MoreHerik Ibsen: Father of Modern Drama1459 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Shivany Condor Mrs. Besnard IB English HL2 21 November 2013 Henrik Ibsen as â€Å"The Father of Modern Drama† Henrik Ibsen has long been referred to as the Father of Modern Drama, and such title has rightly been given so. Mr. Ibsen was one of the pioneer theatre dramaturges that began the Modernism Movement, primarily known as the Realism Movement. Modernism/Realism was a revolutionary idea back in Ibsen s time. Many concepts of theater - including plots, dialogue, and characters – were renovatedRead MoreA Feminist Literary Stance, Roles of Women in Henrik Ibsen’s Play A Doll’s House and George Eliot’s Novel Middlemarch1546 Words   |  7 PagesA feminist literary stance, roles of women in Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House George Eliot’s novel Middlemarch Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House and George Eliot’s Middlemarch are based on events from their personal experiences. The events that lead Ibsen to feel the need to write A Doll’s House makes his approach on the feminist stance a bit more unusual from other writers. Ibsen shows his realist style through modern views and tones that are acted out by the characters in this infamousRead MoreNora Helmer versus Hedda Gabler in Male Dominated Society Essay1101 Words   |  5 Pagesstands against it. In Henrik Ibsen’s stories of Hedda Gabler and A Doll House, we witness examples of a single individual against the overwhelming society. Nora left her family and marriage behind to become an independent individual without the control of men; whereas, Hedda Gabler choose death as her ultimate solution when she was threatened to be control by man. Ibsen’s A Doll’s House was written in 1879 in a style of realism, which depicted life more truthfully without idealized literary elementsRead MoreHenrik Ibsens A Dolls House1489 Words   |  6 PagesChandra Barrier Prof. Jade Love ENG 113-450 July 13, 2012 Enlightenment Drama has been used as a source of entertainment and enlightenment for hundreds of years and is often considered an art form. Just as with many other types of literature, drama relies on several separate components all working together to tell a story. These components serve to draw an audience in, create a believable situation, and illicit a particular response. The play â€Å"A Doll’s House† by Henrik Ibsen provides an excellentRead MoreA Dolls House Play And Movie Analysis852 Words   |  4 PagesCompare and Contrast the Play â€Å"A Doll’s House† To the Movie Introduction The play â€Å"A Dolls House† by Henrik Ibsen was written in 1879. 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However, as the play progresses one can see that Nora is far from being that typical ideal trophy wife, she is an impulsive liar who goes against society’s norm to be whomRead MoreThe Masquerade in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House Essay1015 Words   |  5 Pages   Ã‚   In A Doll House, Ibsen presents us with Torvald and Nora Helmer, a husband and wife who have lived together for eight years and still dont know each other. This rift in their relationship, caused in part by Torvalds and Noras societally-induced gender roles and also by the naivete of both parties to the fact that they dont truly love one another, expands to a chasm by the end of the play, ultimately causing Nora to leave Helmer. 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Nora is the protagonist in A Doll’s House and the wife of a man named Torvald. This play is about Nora’s voyage to recognizing her self- determination and independence. She transforms from a traditional, reserved woman to a new, independent

Kate Chopin Essay Example For Students

Kate Chopin Essay Kate Chopin was an incredibly talented writer of the late 1800s. Kate wrote about real feelings and real issues. Few of the topics thatshe wrote about were spoken of. Kate Chopin became one of the best known and most controversial writers of the 19th century. She stood up for women, their rights and other real issues, no matter what the cost was to her reputation. Kate Chopin was born, Katherine OFlaherty, on February 8,1851, in St. Louis Missouri. She was raised by women for most of her childhood. Kate grew up, married, had kids and was widowed by her husband who died of malaria. It wasnt until the death of her husband that she moved back to her birth place (St. Louis), and began to write. By the time she had started to write, Kate had already experienced many maturing life situations. Kate Chopin wrote about real life and real life situations. Kate foreshadowed future events in her writings. Kate wrote The Awakening, in which she expresses her interest in passion, sexuality and marriage. It also shows her concern for the plight of women in Victorian-era America. (May and Trosky 105) She also had an interest in passion and infidelity. Kate expressed her opinion of liberty nd freedom for women. Kate Chopin had the guts to write about a womans emotional and sexual needs. She also wrote about independence in a woman and she encouraged women not to become a useless wife. Also, With the quest for physical, emotional, and spiritual freedom of a female protagonist as a common theme, much of her work appeared loosely autobiographical. (Comptons Encyclopedia Online v3. 0) Kate Chopin is referred to The artist who dares and defies. (Ahead of her Time 1) At the time Kate Chopin was writing about these topics, they were unspoken of. The subjects that she wrote about were not acknowledged. Kate received critical abuse and the public started to disapprove of her. Some of the negative criticism was for her deep emotional description of a womens coming independence and sensuality. Kates editors suspended publication of her third collection of stories. The publishers felt that the work delt with too much explicit details of love, sex and marriage. Kate was denied a membership to the St. Louis Fine Arts Club. Kate Chopin almost stopped her writing entirely because of all the reactions to her work. Overall, Kates career lasted 14 years and included over 100 novels, stories, poems, reviews, plays and essays. Kate Chopin is now recognized as one of the most important American women novelists. The Awakening, (rediscovered in the 1960s), is now considered to be extraordinary and Kates masterpiece. This book also made Kate Chopin a standard-bearer of the womens rights movement. (Comptons Encyclopedia Online v3. 0) Kate should have been in the 21st century because now these topics are common and accepted among the public. History showed Kate to be ahead of her time as an advocate for ending the poor treatment of women.