Chrysanthemums Quotes

"I wish you'd work out in the orchard and raise some apples that big."

Her eyes sharpened. "Maybe I could do it, too. I've a gift with things all right. Well it sure works with flowers," (para 12-14). This quote first has to do with Elisa the wife of Henry. She's a rancher's wife, an awesome gardener, and a pretty strong lady. But still, she doesn't quite seem happy with her day-to-day life. Then there’s Henry, Henry is a kind man, if slightly dimwitted. He loves his wife but doesn’t really understand and appreciate her. Still, he is an adequate businessman who runs his ranch successfully and provides a comfortable life for his wife. Then there’s A tall, bearded man knows as the tinker who makes his living repairing pots, pans, and other kitchen utensils. The tinker taps into Elisa emotions to try and make a sale and comes across as a witty man who flirts and banters with Elisa. He is also clever and canny enough to convince the skeptical Elisa to give him work, begging at first and finally resorting to flattery. He makes Elisa feel like she’s useful and makes her feel important. In the story chrysanthemums John Steinbeck shows how men perceived women in the 1930s. Henry adores his wife but treats her as infant in some

Lets take into account that this all was taking place in an area in the 1930s were women didn’t have as much rights that men had back then. Women were seen as people that didn’t have a job and would usually stay home and cook and clean for their husbands, and if indeed a woman also had a job like the husband the husband would be seen as a joke in their day an age. On the other had if Henry really loved Elisa he would deft tradition and let her work in the orchards or any other job she wanted to work. While there are cases for wither side they both know it’s unrealistic for her to work in the orchards or go watch a fight with her