The Chrysanthemums Critical Analysis

In Steinbeck’s, The Chrysanthemums, Elisa is a woman in her thirties who nurtures her chrysanthemums as her husband works out in the world. She yearns for a connection, as she eagerly plants and engages in a conversation with an unknown tinker. As she converses with the tinker, notice how she becomes a strong and vibrant woman, as she passionately becomes one with nature. Both her husband and tinker attempt to put her in “place,” based on society’s view of women. Feeling overwhelmed with her emotions, she begins to realize her role as a woman in the household and attempts to break free. Based on the sources that were synthesized, one may agree that Steinbeck’s criticism on gender roles uses the ecofeminist approach through the chrysanthemums.

Gender roles in the society limit what each gender can or cannot do. Historically, men are responsible for the outside work, while women mainly kept themselves busy

It is “the philosophy that women have a spiritual connection with nature that is stronger than men’s, that women and nature are dominated by men in similar ways, and that women’s connections to nature can be a source of strength” (Bily). This can be seen through the use of chrysanthemums. Elisa does not have any children, despite being a married woman. She is in her thirties, and it generally is difficult for a woman at her age to bear children. As a mature woman, she has a “maternal instinct” that Skredsvig describes, as a result of not having any kids in the household. Since she is technically in the household for the most part, she sees her chrysanthemums as her children. Therefore, she can feel the connection similar to that of a mother and her child. As stated by Bily, nature, specifically the chrysanthemums, are Elisa’s strength. The husband and the tinker do not seem to understand her passionate view of her flowers. Moreover, the chrysanthemum flower has a connection to gender