John Steinbeck, a well-known American novelist, is mostly recognized for his great representation of the 1930s, men, and political views. However, Steinbeck includes a significant description of women in many of his works. He grew up in the time between 1900 and 1920, and took in everything around him, which later affected his writing. Steinbeck’s early views of women in his household, women’s suffrage, the time of the Great Depression, and of female classmates, teachers, and wives, all reflect in his stories. Specifically, “The Chrysanthemums”, “The White Quail”, and The Grapes of Wrath provide examples of women as inferior, stereotyped, and as less than valuable. Although, while men in Steinbeck’s texts are seen as dominant, powerful, and controlling. John Steinbeck’s works highlight and reveal women’s positions before and around the 1930s. …show more content…
She is described as “eager” with her flowers and Henry compliments her work and says, “I wish you’d work out in the orchard and raise some apples that big” (Schakel and Ridl 322). Elisa’s excitement shows how much she truly wants more important, and Henry’s comment reveals her little, seen ability. Henry’s complement is no real suggestion, it just raises Elisa’s hopes for nonexistent fulfillment. Unappreciated and of little importance to her businessman of a husband, Elisa longs to be more valuable. After the tinker gives Elisa a sense of purpose, Henry describes her as “different, strong, and happy” (Schakel and Ridl 327). Later, Elisa even proposes the idea of going to a fight, showing her potential. Although, once again, her character changes as she realizes her real uselessness to the tinker, and to society. Elisa grow’s upset and cries weakly in the end. Primarily, the narrative’s concentration on Elisa directly demonstrates Steinbeck’s characterization of a restricted, household woman, who is “smothered by male domination”