The Chrysanthemums by John Steinback is a short story about the demanding and hurtful culture about being yourself. Throughout the story, we see Elisa try to represent herself through the pots of flowers and the garden she grows, While people try to show her what she needs to like and act like to succeed in the culture that they live in. This short story shows that when people are ridiculed for not liking things that they should stereotypically enjoy in one's culture, they become disheartened with themselves. One instance of this is the conversation between the wagon driver and Elise.
The conversation between the wagon driver and Elise shows that people believe women and other groups of people should not live the ‘’non-household’’ life. After Elisa tells the driver that she wishes that women could also sleep in wagons and travel the world just as men do, the driver scoffs and says ‘’It just ain’t the right life for a woman’’ This quote shows how people see women, even without meeting them first. This also shows
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The ending and the ensuing talk between Elisa and Henry shows that Elisa dislikes the way women are portrayed in the society that they live in. In the final conversation between Elisa and Henry, they talk about if they really want to go to the fight and if Henry feels like it’s something a woman would do. ‘’What's the matter, Elisa? Do you want to go? I don't think you’d like it, but I’ll take you if you really want to go’’ This quote shows how even though Henry is asking Elisa if she wants to go, he is not seeing her as a person and more as someone breaking the stereotype in their culture. This is why Elisa proceeds to cry at the very end of the story ‘’She turned up her coat collar so he could not see that she was crying weakly’’ this quote also shows the unrest Elisa has from everyone categorizing her into different groups, As all she wants is to be herself, and for people to understand