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Symbols and meanings of the chrysanthemums in john steinbeck's story
Symbols and meanings of the chrysanthemums in john steinbeck's story
Symbols and meanings of the chrysanthemums in john steinbeck's story
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John Steinbeck's The Chrysanthemums
The short story “The Chrysanthemums,” by John Steinbeck, is a multi-layered work that contains various symbolic meanings, it is said to be “…one of the best things he ever did” (Parini 146). It has been hailed as a great short story not for the depiction of a cattleman and his wife, but for it’s symbolic meanings. Steinbeck was known for writing about his “…strong rebellion against any repressive power in civilization’s power bloc and his strong sensitivity toward any repressed individual” (Timmerman 177).
This sensitivity toward repressed individuals is quite evident through the portrayal of the confined cattleman’s wife, Elisa, and her encounter with the tinker. Though Steinbeck often struggled with writing his stories, it is said that this one was one of the hardest for him to write (Timmerman 38). It was a “story of a woman he couldn’t get out of his mind” (Timmerman 169). “The Chrysanthemums” is symbolic of Elisa’s failed attempt to escape her mechanical life and the domestic sphere that entraps her femininity and her true self.
The symbolic nature of this story relies on the creation of images of isolation, routine/mechanical lives, and oppression. A feeling of the isolation of the couple and Elisa individually is created through the description of the setting, “As in much of his fiction, this story opens with a personified landscape, a paysage moralisé in which the weather and geographical setting are deeply symbolic gesturing in the direction of the story’s ultimate meaning” (Parini 210). It is described as being “…closed off …from the sky and the rest of the world” (Steinbeck 213). This isolation is further developed as the reader learns that the couple goes into town ...
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French, Warren. John Steinbeck’s Fiction Revisited. Ed. Frank Day. New York: Twayne, 1994.
Hapke, Laura. Daughters of the Great Depression: Women, Work, and Fiction in the American 1930’s. Athens: U of Georgia P, 1995.
Leroy, Thomas. “Steinbeck’s THE CHRYSANTHEMUMS”: Explicator 45.3 (Spring 1987): 50-51.
Parini, Jay. John Steinbeck: A Biography. Markham: Fitzhenry &Whiteside Ltd, 1995.
Steinbeck, John. “The Chrysanthemums.” 1934. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Eds. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 3rd. ed. New York: Longman, 2002. 221-220.
“Symbol” Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Eds. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 3rd. ed. New York: Longman, 2002. 210-212.
Timmerman, John H. The Dramatic Landscape of Steinbeck’s Short Stories. Norman: U of Oklahoma P, 1990.
Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath, The Moon is Down, Cannery Row, East of Eden, Of Mice and Men. New York: Heinemann/Octopus, 1979. pp.475 - 896.
Within Steinbeck's story, "Chrysanthemums," the main character, Elisa Allen, is confronted with many instances of conflict. Steinbeck uses chrysanthemums to symbolize this conflict and Elisa's self-worth. By examining these points of conflict and the symbolism presented by the chrysanthemums, the meaning of the story can be better determined.
The two short stories have different characters, plot and setting and yet they have a common ground in which human beings are deeply involved. In short, the setting of each work powerfully suggests a rather calm, dull and peaceful mood at a superficial level; however, the main characters are struggling from the uncontrollable passions and exploding desire at heart. First of all, in "The Chrysanthemums" the Salinas Valley is depicted as somewhat dull, like "a closed pot." In addition, its geographical setting represents an isolated atmosphere, and, furthermore, Elisa's actions of handling chrysanthemums can be translated into a static, inactive one. However, when it comes to her concealed passion, the whole picture in this piece can be interpreted in a different way. In fact, Elisa is portrayed as "over-eager, over-powerful" in a sharp contrast to the unanimated space in which she lives. On top of that, Elisa expresses her volition to explore uncharted worlds like the peddler who happens to visit her farm house. Also, it must be noted that, even though Elisa does not reveal her desire openly largely due to the authoritative patriarchal system, Elisa's interior motive is directed toward the violent, bloody prizefights. In other words, the imbalance between the relatively restricted setting and Elisa's vaulting desire to wander into the unknown territory is chiefly designed to strengthen the overall imagery of Elisa, whose drive to experience the violent outer world. At the same time, it can be inferred that appearance (setting) and reality (Elisa's human nature) are hard to understand.
Steinbeck, John. “The Chrysanthemums”. Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, Drama. 2nd ed. Ed. Robert DiYanni. New York: McGraw, 2008. 459-466. Print.
Steinbeck, John. “The Chrysanthemums” Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V Roberts and Robert Zweig. 10th ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2012. 416-422. Print.
Every great writer creates powerful images and presents story lines that draw their readers deep into the pages of their books, however; any writer would be hard pressed to do so without incorporating their own feelings, trials and tribulations into the plots and John Steinbeck is no exception. Through his appreciation for adventure and willingness to indulge in it, Steinbeck found a myriad of fascinating people in addition to experiences that he was eager to share. Past various negative criticisms and frequent rejections of his work, he manages to provide relatable characters capable of deep connections to those who enter into the realms of his tales. John Steinbeck's early life experiences influenced his portrayals of women, his love of the land, and his intimate connection to the plight of lower social classes, themes which translate into his work.
Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums” uses the tension between a wandering homeless man and Elisa Allen to suggest that although many women are dissatisfied with their roles in the household, the deepness at which gender roles are ingrained in society prevents them from assuming the positions that they want. Elisa flirts with the homeless man, but is reminded by him that her place as a woman is in the household; although she feels dismay at the thought, she does not challenge it due to the apparent inevitability of her situation. After passing him on the road later she is reminded of the fact that she will never be free to live life like the man, causing her to cry and feel “like an old woman:” (Steinbeck, 268) helpless when it comes to controlling
Known as the “Empress Of Blues”, Bessie Smith was said to have revolutionized the vocal end of Blues Music. She showed a lot of pride as an independent African-American woman. Her style in performance and lyrics often reflected her lifestyle. Bessie Smith was one of the first female jazz artists, and she paved the way for many musicians who followed.
I chose to analyze the life and accomplishments of Ella Fitzgerald for several reasons. She used her beautiful voice and talent to promote the Civil Rights movement and achieve her dreams, despite the many obstacles she faced. Additionally, as a fan of Ella and jazz, I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to learn about the “ First Lady of Song.” Over the course of this paper, the childhood and lifespan of Ella Fitzgerald will be discussed as well as why Ella Fitzgerald is notable and how she inspires me.
Child sexual tourism and the commercial sexual exploitation of women are widespread and well-known practices in Thailand. A sexual tourist is a person who travels from a foreign country in order to commit sexual acts that are illegal or socially unacceptable in their home country and thus avoid prosecution or a personal sense of responsibility by paying for the “service” from an exploited woman or child. Commercial sexual exploitation involves the recruitment, manipulation and forcing of women and children into prostitution, in exchange for money (Vejar & Quach, May 2013) (Newman, Holt, Rabun, Phillips, & Scott, March 2011). Sexual exploitation can also include the transport of women from other countries under false pretenses, such as for
At first glance John Steinbeck’s "The Chrysanthemums" seems to be a story about a woman whose niche is in the garden. Upon deeper inspection the story has strong notes of feminism in the central character Elisa Allen. Elisa’s actions and feelings reflect her struggle as a woman trying and failing to emasculate herself in a male dominated society. Elisa is at her strongest and most proud in the garden and becomes weak when placed in feminine positions such as going out to dinner with her husband. Steinbeck carefully narrates this woman’s frequent shifts between femininity and masculinity over a short period of time.
Human trafficking is becoming more popular in all countries. The numerous different types of trafficking all add up to “an estimated two to three million migrant workers in Thailand” (“Thailand,” par. 1). Mostly women are being trafficked and a small part of men/boys, but they are not the only people being trafficked but there are children, of both male and female, under the age of eighteen also being trafficked with an estimate of “800,000 children work in the sex trade” (Chidley 1). Thailand has been getting worse and worse for the past few years so the “State Department report to decide whether to impose sanctions on the ‘tier three’ country” of Thailand.” (Chaichdlearmmongkol 1). As human trafficking continues to getting worse, Human-rights groups have become more popular throughout Thailand, often protesting how the Thailand government hasn’t done a lot to stop they migrant slaves. These victims of human trafficking have nowhere to go because there is a lot of corrupt law enforcement throughout
Chemicals are used in a wide variety of products and play an important role in the world economy. They are constituents of materials, are used in preparations and products and are embedded in complex physical systems. While chemicals are a significant contributor to national economies, sound chemical management across the life cycle - from extraction to disposal - is essential to avoid significant risks to human health and the environment, along with their associated economic costs, and to maximize benefits for human well-being. Growth in chemical production and use has slowed in many of the developed countries that previously dominated the market, while it has accelerated rapidly in a number of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. These countries are, increasingly, the drivers of global expansion in production and use of these chemicals.
Within Cambodia, efforts to stop trafficking are blocked by officials due to the profit they get from it, and are also stunted by the normalization of it, and the lack of advocation for these victims on an international scale. Often times, the issue is not brought to an international stage due to ethnocentrism, isolationism, and racial inequality. Anette Marcher looks at a worldwide trade that attracts little publicity - unless the victims are young, attractive and white (Phnom Penh Post). This article focuses on how there was international attention brought to the case of a few young Romanian and Moldovan girls who were trafficked, and how an ongoing epidemic of this within many countries is ignored, and has actually been dubbed a “tourist attraction” in Cambodia, with a large part of their tourism revenue
Thailand’s sexual exploitation of girls is steadily increasing as the years go by. According to a press release from the International Labor organization or the ILO, there were between 30,000 to 35,000 child prostitutes in 1993. This data comes only six years after t...