Write a 5-7 page essay on this topic.
The Theme of Confinement and Gender Roles in John Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums” By John Steinbeck
In John Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums,” Elisa Allen, a woman whose existence is characterized by emotional and physical limitations that limit her potential and personal development, serves as a vehicle for exploring the issue of confinement and its effects on women. She takes great care of the chrysanthemums, which represent her femininity, inventiveness, and repressed passions. The story’s environment, especially the fenced-in garden and the Salinas Valley, which is referred to as a “closed pot,” alludes to the restrictions placed on her by conventional gender norms. Elisa’s encounter with the tinker briefly breaks her seclusion and provides a view of a wider world, but his eventual disdain for her prized flowers emphasizes how society disregards the ambitions of women. Steinbeck’s depiction of Elisa’s hardship and suffering highlights the novel’s larger criticism of the constrictive roles that are imposed on women, rendering “The Chrysanthemums” a moving examination of gender, identity, and the necessity of achieving personal freedom.
The short story link: https://literaryfictions.com/fiction-1/the-chrysanthemums-by-john-steinbeck-2/
Research: You are required to use at least three outside sources. These should be scholarly articles that shed light on the meaning of your text(s).
Sample Topics: Your essay might focus on a critical analysis of a text, including elements such as character, theme, symbol, irony, metaphor…, or it might deal with a single idea that you decide to explore. For example, how do the symbols and images in “Hills Like White Elephants” contribute to the meaning of the story? Or, does the Misfit in O’Connor’s “A Good Man…,” conform to a psychological description of a serial killer? Or…to what extent does Arnold Friend in Oates’ “Where Are You Going…” parallel the real life killer who was the prototype? How did Oates change the original? Discuss the treatment of women or children in two or more texts on the Course Outline.
Include an Annotated Works Cited page at the end of the essay. Consult the Writing Resources tab for instructions on how to document, how to annotate a source, and how to create an Annotated Works Cited page.
Be sure to use relevant quotes from your text or primary source to support the ideas you are developing.
Length: 5- 7 pages (This does not include the Annotated Works Cited.)