In John Steinbeck’s The Chrysanthemum’s, the author is able to depict the many dominant and submissive features of men and women during this time period. The reader is immediately placed into a setting where the two genders are socially isolated from one another, setting up for much of the interactions that occur between characters. Through characterization, Steinbeck uses main characters the Tinker, Henry Allen, and more particularly Elisa Allen to illustrate what is was like to be in the shoes women during the early 1900’s.
The Chrysanthemums begins with the introduction of Elisa Allen, who appears to be lonely and secluded as she sits among her plot of chrysanthemums watching and waiting for her husband to complete his business. Elisa is…show more content… Before leaving, Henry comments on how well she has taken care of her Chrysanthemums and sarcastically expresses how he wished she would do the same in the orchards. Elisa takes this seriously and shows interest in helping out on the ranch. However, she is dismissed and the subject is changed. Although Henry’s condescension was well-meant, Elisa has been thwarted once again. Elisa lives an unsatisfying life where she is ignored at every turn. Elisa has no children or chances of a legitimate career, and her interest in helping out with Henry’s business is only met with dismissal. As a result, Elisa devotes all of her time and energy into maintaining her…show more content… By doing so, Steinbeck allows the reader to see the world he depicts through Elisa’s eyes. By the end of the story, the reader is able to understand more about Elisa by not only reading, but experiencing her feelings as a person. When Elisa sees her flowers dumped onto the road, she feels more alone than ever. At a rare moment in her life when she felt a spark of hopefulness, coming to the realization that it was not as she pictured crushed her. The chrysanthemums represent Elisa as a character. Like her, the flowers she grew were strong. Elisa said that she becomes one with the flowers when tending to them, suggesting that she identifies herself with them. When the tinker shows interest in the flowers, Elisa acts as if he had noticed her as