The Chrysanthemums

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Elisa Allen Lives an Enclosed Life with Henry
The Chrysanthemums is a short story that was first written by John Steinbeck in October 1937. Elisa Allen is a character used in the book to show gender inequality in a world dominated by men and how the fight for women’s liberation always has a dead-ending. Elisa is a strong woman who is denied social, individual and sexual satisfaction by the perception of the responsibility of a woman in a society dominated by men.
This exasperation is clearly observed when Elisa is introduced to be wearing an outfit that hides her body, giving her a “heavy and blocked” figure since she is putting on heavy gloves, shoes, a “black hat for men” and a big apron which does not show her printed dress (Gale 92). She seems to be happy with the outfit, but on the other hand, it can be viewed that the cloths oppress her womanliness.
The next situation happens when the tinker visits. Elisa initially showed a strong response by declining to give the tinker work. The tinker manages to sweet talk Elisa and the feminine side kicks in as she takes off her gloves together with her hat which are masculine and gives him work. Elisa is captivated by the tinker since he feels the tinker enjoys a life of freedom and adventure that is available only to men. At one point, Elisa desires to sleep in the wagon just like the tinker and says “it must be very nice, I wish women could do such things” (Gale 93). Elisa’s dreams are shattered when the tinker says that is not the right kind of life for a woman.

Elisa’s desire for sexual fulfillment is also shown in the incident she leaps at the chance to reveal herself to the tinker with a husky voice. She talks about stars rising hot and sharp – and lovely when it’s dark. She then tries to reach his legs, but hand fails (Gale 95). This shows that Elisa has a boring marriage (being 35 years with no kids) since her sexual demands are not met.
At the end of the story, Elisa remains to be a mystery. Even though she is described as active by the narrator and Henry, it’s a mystery why she is crying weakly – like an old woman at the end. Elisa is the only person who understands what she feels. The reason for her cry at the end may be that Steinbeck was trying to convey the message that even though the fight for gender equality may be considered active, at the very end it may never be achieved.
Work Cited
Gale, Cengage Learning. A Study Guide for John Steinbeck’s” Chrysanthemums.” Gale, Cengage Learning, 2016.