"The Chrysanthemums," written by John Steinbeck, is a short story that explores the life of a woman named Elisa Allen, who is living in a patriarchal society that limits her opportunities and confines her to traditional gender roles.
At the beginning of the story, Elisa is described as a strong and capable woman who takes great pride in her chrysanthemums, which she raises in her garden. Despite her talents and interests, however, Elisa feels unfulfilled and trapped in her mundane, domestic life. This is evident when she eagerly engages in conversation with a stranger, a tinker, who comes to her farm to sell his wares.
Throughout the story, Elisa's interactions with the tinker serve as a foil for her own feelings of frustration and isolation. The tinker, who is described as being rough and masculine, represents the outside world that Elisa longs to be a part of. Elisa is attracted to the tinker's independence and freedom, and she even feels a sense of envy towards him.
This envy is further highlighted when the tinker compliments Elisa on her chrysanthemums, saying that they are the best he has ever seen. This small gesture of appreciation and recognition is something that Elisa lacks in her own life, and it fills her with a sense of pride and validation.
However, this moment of happiness is short-lived, as Elisa's husband, Henry, soon arrives and interrupts their conversation. Henry is the embodiment of the patriarchal society that Elisa lives in, and his presence serves to reinforce the gender roles and expectations that Elisa is expected to fulfill.
When Henry asks Elisa what she has been doing, she is unable to express her excitement about the tinker's visit and her chrysanthemums, and instead responds with a mundane, "Oh, just the same old things." This response serves as a reminder of the limitations that have been placed on Elisa's life, and the ways in which she has been conditioned to accept them.
As the story progresses, Elisa's frustration with her situation continues to grow, and she becomes more and more isolated from the outside world. This is exemplified when she cuts off the stems of her chrysanthemums and wraps them up in a newspaper, symbolizing her own sense of confinement and the ways in which her talents and interests have been suppressed.
In the end, Elisa's encounter with the tinker serves as a wake-up call, reminding her of the possibilities that exist outside of her domestic life and the limitations that have been placed on her by society. While she may never fully escape these limitations, the experience serves as a reminder of the strength and determination that she possesses, and the potential for change that exists within her.
Overall, "The Chrysanthemums" is a powerful portrayal of the struggles that women face in a patriarchal society, and the ways in which these struggles can impact their sense of self and their relationships with others. It serves as a reminder of the need for gender equality and the importance of recognizing and valuing the talents and abilities of all individuals, regardless of their gender.
