The Chrysanthemums

In The Chrysanthemums, Elisa Allen, wife of Henry, is a housewife and gardening is her main job of her daily life. "Her face was lean and strong"(352)"Her face was eager and mature and heasome;even her work with the scissors was over-eager, over-powerful"(352). According to Steinbeck's description of Elisa Allen, not like the stereotype of housewife, she seems as strong and powerful as a man, but still very obedient to her husband. Elisa Allen is a really passionate and strong woman, who wants to escape from the typical housewife's life of woman. She wishes she could live a life like the tinker. She is tired of her ordinary life of planting and she is eager to show to men that a woman is able to do what a man can do.

Oct 12 2014