Oppression In John Steinbeck's 'The Chrysanthemums'

“Woman is shut up in a kitchen or in a boudoir, and astonishment is expressed that her horizon is limited. Her wings are clipped, and it is found deplorable that she cannot fly. Let but the future be opened to her, and she will no longer be compelled to linger in the present.” by Simone De Beauvoir. Throughout history, women have lived under the decree of men. Such oppression has given women the drive to achieve the freedoms that men possess in patriarchal society. In John Steinbeck’s short story “The Chrysanthemums,” Steinbeck demonstrates how women are misunderstood and seldom ever encouraged to live life beyond what they are expected to. Through themes of manipulation and deception, and heavy steinbeck's use of characterization and symbolism

Tinker is the Antagonist that help make a dramatic change in Elisa life. Tinker lifestyle was more like someone who lived on the roads. He had to work hard and earn what he made. Tinker did this in order to stay alive and also travel. Elisa was so intrigued by his lifestyle that she opened up to him. In Steinbeck's views “ While the man came through the picket gate Elisa ran excitedly along the geranium- bothered path to the back of the house. And she returned carrying a big red flower pot. The gloves were forgotten”(1227). The gives the reader a glimpse of who Elisa. She is strong and intelligent women that she wants to be. The gloves that were forgotten was the rules and regulation that society had enforced for women that elisa left behind. Tinker coming into elisa life in this moment also symbolises something new. Steinbeck usage of tinker was to prove an important point. Even Though Tinker may represent new life, he also reminds elisa where she stand in society as a women. As claimed by steinbeck, “She kneeled on the ground by the starting bed and dug up the sandy soil with her fingers and scooped it into the bright new flower pot”(1227). Elisa has become so vulnerable that tinker fooled into thinking that he cares about her flowers. As a traveling man all he cares about is fixing pots and making money. A women is mainly any ordinary thing to him in his eyes. Tinker really knew how to play the game and he got what he wanted which was the pot and not the flower. Steinbeck is conveying a message that Women are known to be submissive and respective of men. This is demonstrated when elisa kneeled down which gives all authority back to men