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Repression In John Steinbeck's The Chrysanthemums '

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John Steinbeck’s, The Chrysanthemums, is a story set in the early 20th century. The story takes place in December, on the ranch of Henry and Elisa Allen, near the Salinas Valley in California. The Allen ranch has an apple orchard and cattle on it. Henry runs the ranch as head of household and Elisa is a homemaker with a knack for growing chrysanthemums. We pick up the story with Henry, who has just sold some cattle. To celebrate, he is taking Elisa out to dinner and a movie later on in the evening. This story is filled with repression, anxiety, guilt and unresolved conflict throughout. Repression takes many forms in the story, most notably that Elisa isn’t an active participant in the marriage, but is treated rather as a spectator
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