Examples Of Feminism In The Chrysanthemums

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Feminism, a movement that promotes equal rights for women, was one of the most influential political ideas of the 19th century. Primarily in the 1860’s, women began to fight for rights. Due to this, some states soon began to grant rights to woman such as voting in local elections. In 1920, women finally gained advantages including owning property and attending college. John Steinbeck’s short story, “The Chrysanthemums” portrays the authors view on feminism through the realistic portrayal of the main character between being a strong woman and a traditional woman while revealing the notions of patriarchy, gender stereotyping, and inequality. (Bloom, 2003) John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California on February 27, 1902. “It would be good to be able to say, that the liberal and humane Steinbeck achieved permanence as a fiction-writer.” Steinbeck, described as an American Modernist writer, began writing in 1927. “During boyhood, the writer attended public school in Salinas. A good student, being interested in a wide variety of students.” (Lisca, 1978) Steinbeck’s California backgr...

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