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The Chrysanthemums Inequality Between Men And Women

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John Steinbeck’s short story, “The Chrysanthemums” is a popular story that takes place in 1930’s America, during the early years of the Great Depression. Although the story takes place during this difficult time in American history it is not important to the story, instead it’s the time period. Steinbeck’s story is about Elisa Allen, a middle aged women who lives on a farm with her husband. Elisa lives in a time period were women are not respected or taken seriously like today’s women, and it is shown many times in the story. Steinbeck demonstrates the theme of inequality between men and women through the conversations Elisa has with her husband, and the tinker throughout the story. In the story Elisa has two different conversations with two …show more content…

The Tinker is a man who travels across the west coast looking for work. He stops at Elisa’s house asking if she had anything he could fix, to which she replies no. Still being persistent the Tinker strikes a conversation with Elisa revealing what his daily life is like. Elisa seems to take an interest to the life he lives and comments, ‘”It must be very nice. I wish women could do such things” (455). Elisa wishes she can lead a life like the tinker; doing something that is meaningful to her without any boundaries. Which is harmless, it’s the American Dream to be able to follow a passion regardless gender, and succeed in it; however this is America in the 30’s and not everyone could live this kind of free life. This is shown by the tinker’s response to Elia’s comment, “It ain’t the right kind of life for a women” (455). Finally, this shows the inequality women have in American in the 1930’s. The tinker shuts down Elisa’s thoughts of living a life like his saying women shouldn’t live like that. He doesn’t ask if she thinks she’s capable of living on her own or even considers it, he simply says women shouldn’t live like he is. Therefore Elisa’s discussion with the tinker shows what men think of women and their place should

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