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The Chrysanthemums Hardship Quotes

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Hardships can shape an individual’s ability to persevere through difficult times and act as barriers to one’s aspirations. A person who faces rough hardships will develop to become rigid and resilient through struggle, while an easily distracted individual may stray off course and be left behind. In the short story “The Chrysanthemums”, John Steinbeck explores the idea that when an independent and strong-willed individual is faced with a patriarchal gender barrier, they are likely to become overwhelmed with feelings of insecurity and weakness. In the mid-1900s, there was a widespread belief in male superiority and the perception that women should not have demanding careers as they were inferior to men in physical, emotional, and mental strength. …show more content…

In the short story’s resolution, Elisa discovers her chrysanthemum sprouts on the side of the road as she and Henry drive to their date. She whispered to herself, “He might have thrown them off the road. That wouldn't have been much trouble, not very much. But he kept the pot.” This quote shows that the tinker manipulated and used Elisa for work and wealth. At this point in the story, she has an epiphany and is finally able to think clearly, leading her to realize that her interaction with the tinker was ingenuine and deceitful. Through the tinker’s sly words, he tricked Elisa into believing he truly saw her as an independent and respectful woman and because of this, she became attached and assumed the truth from him. Furthermore, she starts quietly crying like an old woman and hides her face. Diving deeper, the tinker’s actions are fueled by his hidden belief that Elisa is a gullible and pejorative victim. Due to the limitations imposed by gender bias, the tinker’s actions support Elisa’s portrayal as an unstable and helpless character. Elisa’s power was limited by the gender barrier, and it played a significant role in shaping the short story’s plot. Moreover, it also reinforced the consequences of her harmful

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Further supporting Henry’s expectations, the way Elisa dresses while she gardens, downplays her femininity. As Elisa is busy working in the fields, her hair gets in her way and she moves it to the side. In the process she “left a smudge of earth on her cheek” (1). Having dirt on her face did not concern her, and so she did not take time to remove it. In Elisa’s mind, tending her garden allows her to find inner happiness amongst her chrysanthemums.

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The Chrysanthemums Literary Analysis One of the themes of “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck is gender inequality. In this short story, the main character Elisa Allen was a strong, smart woman who was stuck being a common housewife. Elisa wishes she could go out and be like the tinker, sleeping under the stars and adventuring every day of her life. Elisa’s husband owns a ranch of some sorts, and when he tells Elisa of the business deal he’d just made he gave her an unspecific explanation, or a dumbed down one so he doesn’t “confuse her”.

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When at home the women are subjected to monotonous chores that are laid onto them by the men and have to cope with the thought that they will never get to work towards something greater. Women are assigned to sexist roles that they have to act out within their community. Because both women were subject to such similar roles Mrs. Hale, Mrs. Peters, and Mrs. Wright develop a bond with each other through their shared experiences. During this time period the women do not have a support system for the misogyny and sexism they face. The men ridiculed the women for their gender and because of this they experienced a unique female expression when faced with sexism.

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