John Steinbeck Mocks Feminism

When John Steinbeck mocks feminism he is trying to show how woman in the story are dominated by a male or by a male society in general. The work is introduced by finding the fault against all women. In the times when John Steinbeck wrote the story, The Chrysanthemums, women were seen as inferior. Many times men and women would perform a equal task, but the women would be oppressed just because of their gender The women were not seen in the same respect in any aspect that men were. The portrayal of women greatly influenced the way John Steinbeck wrote this story.

In The Chrysanthemums, John Steinbeck intends to suggest that all women are not equal to men in society. Elisa understands this when she is not able to take part in the same male oriented activities that her husband takes part in. Elisa is seen as a lesser of a person just because of her gender. That demoralism of women leads me to believe that Steinbeck thought all women were insignificant.

John Steinbeck's development of Elisa in the story is easy to understand. In the beginning Elisa is viewed as a hard working housewife, and nothing more than that. When she meets the peddler she was overcome with confidence, and she seemed to have more control over her world. Only when she sees that her chrysanthemums have been discarded, she is reduced down to nothing but a sobbing and helpless woman.

Anyone who is oppressed over a long period of time will have a tendency to rebel and fight for some kind of right. John Steinbeck chose to make the main character Elisa a women for a reason. Steinbeck ridicules all women through the eyes of Elisa. Women were seen as lifeless and are willing to accept their life as it is given to them. She seems to be unwilling and makes no real attempt to overcome the tedious duties of being a housewife. Elisa does accept the life that she and all women were forced to have. She does not do anything to overcome her male dominators.

In this story, John Steinbeck showed that women will never be equal to man. Women have fought long and hard for the same rights as man. Today women are seen the same as man in almost every aspect.