Response to questions posted in other instractions.Questions to a The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck - Book Report/Review Example

A Response to “The Chrysanthemums A Story by John Steinbeck Word Count: 505 (2 pgs Response to "The Chrysanthemums" by John Steinbeck. 1. How, where, and why does Steinbeck use description to convey his storys theme? 
2. What do the chrysanthemums symbolize? 
3. Discuss Elisa in relation to constructions of womanhood. How does this story depict women and why does Elisa cry at the end of the story? In John Steinbeck’s story The Chrysanthemums: the how, where, and why will be discussed as to how Steinbeck uses description to convey the story’s theme; the chrysanthemums are symbolizations; and Elisa is part of the construction of womanhood, depicting women in a certain way, while it will be discussed why Elisa cries at the end.

How, where, and why Steinbeck uses description to convey his story’s theme are going to be herein discussed. How Steinbeck uses description is very effective—evoking themes of the homestead life, or what it was like to live on a farm. He describes a little white house and a barn, which is the ideal life for that time period. Steinbeck uses description at the very beginning of the story to tell of the somber situation going on in Elisa’s household. The description of the landscape seems dull and lifeless apart from a few minor lovely details, but primarily it is a bleak landscape.

Why John Steinbeck chose to describe the theme of the story in the way he did is completely uncertain; one can only guess why. There is a certain genius to his misogynistic portrayal of Elisa, indeed. One need only imagine but no one really knows why Steinbeck wrote this way except to attribute it to his poor upbringing and the life he led in and around Salinas, California—which continues to be the traditional stomping grounds of poor farm workers, where his roots were based. The chrysanthemums that Elisa was pruning definitely symbolize women.

Women are delicate, like flowers. Also, women get “cut down” after a time; after years of serving meals, providing earthly pleasures for their partners, and rearing children, they are just as soon “tossed aside,” or proverbially forgotten, just like the flowers. Undoubtedly, one of the key elements of this story was insisting with this beginning part of the story that the chrysanthemums were one of the themes of the entire piece. This story emphasizes the challenges of women, depicting women in a particular way; the protagonist, Elisa, cries at the end.

One of the greatest challenges women have is suriviving. Yes, it’s true that chrysanthemums bloom, and then, after a short season their time is over. However, the author depicts this woman, Elisa as being delicate in the way that she is peaceful and doesn’t like fighting. However, her husband obviously wanted to go to see the boxing match. She secretly cries at the end because she is stuck in a marriage that is like being at a dead end for her; marriage is sacred and she is not allowed out of it.

John Steinbeck’s story The Chrysanthemums, with its depiction of the landscape, the theme of Chrysanthemums, and his portrayal of women in the story—all tell us something about the nature of womanhood and the vital role women play in our society. Without a doubt, John Steinbeck’s portrayal, especially of Elisa—shows the many ways in which women were, and still are, limited by society in several senses of the word. BIBLIOGRAPHYSteinbeck, John. The Chrysanthemums. Retrieved 1 Nov 2011 at: .