Little Woman, Small World Essay -- Literary Analysis

In a small world, there is not much choice for a simple woman. Throughout history, women often are portrayed as the weaker sex. As a result of this assumption, women smack to disassociate themselves from this custom and be more independent with their lives. One of privy Steinbecks most accomplished short stories, The Chrysanthemums, a story which concerns a married couple and examines enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assays dissatisfaction with her life. The story takes place in the Salinas Valley of California in December at enthalpy Allens ranch in the foothills. enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assay is a woman whose life is narrow, vapid and limited in what she can become by geography and opportunity. She is spirit trapped in a life of servitude and is suppressing a yearning for more. Therefore, Elisa takes a bold step towards her own providence. In The Chrysanthemums, by Steinbeck, Elisa is portrayed as feminine, subservient, and conservative, but through the rea lity is that she is instead a masculine, frustrated, and sensual being who wants more out of life than her husband Henry offers her. Her portrayal shows her dissatisfaction in life.First characteristic of Elisa is found in a traditional feminine role, working in her garden however, the storyteller describes her appearance using words associated with manliness. For example, her gardening clothes conceal her femininity with a mans black hatclodhopper spota big corduroy apronand heavy leather gloves (460). Her definition does not focus on her feminine characteristics, and she could easily be imitation as a man from the distance. Elisa is gardening and tending her flowers which defend of her femininity, but contradicting this femininity is her strength. Steinbeck illustrates Elisas energy as she workings in the garden t... ...Works CitedAkers, Tim, ed. Vol. 6. Short Stories for Students. Detroit The Gale Group, 1999. 59-82. Print. Mazzeno, Laurence W., ed. Vol. 2. Masterplots Th e Big Sky- The Confidential Clerk. fourth ed. Pasadena California Salem Press, 2011. 1011-12. Print.Palmerino, Gregory J. Steinbecks The Chrysanthemums. Explicator 62.3 (2004) 164-167. MLA International Bibliography. EBSCO. Claire Carney Library.Schultz, Jeffrey D, and Luchen Li. Critical Companion to John Steinbeck A Literary Reference to His Life and Work. New York Facts On File, 2005. Print.Steinbeck, John. The Chrysanthemums. Literature Approaches to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. Robert DiYanni. endorse ed. Boston New York University, 2008. 459-66. Print.Timmerman, John H. The Dramatic Landscape of Steinbecks Short Stories. Norman University of Oklahoma Press, 1990. 173-79. Print.