Erica N. HallProf AsratEn 111-Be24 Apr 2012

The Chrysanthemums

The Types of Frustrations That Elisa Experiences Partly Being a Woman in a Man’s World

Elisa Allen is a passionate, intelligent, and interesting lady who lives an under stimulated, and unsatisfied life. She is ignored or thwarted at each turn: having a professional occupation is not an option for Elisa. She does not have children of her own, her interest in the commercial part of the ranch is disregarded, and her offers of assistance to her husband at the ranch are accorded well-meant disdain. Elisa’s desire to see the world is dismissed as an unfit aspiration for a woman. Consequently, she dedicates all her vigor to taking care of the garden and house-keeping. Although she appropriately brags concerning her green finger, her connection with nature seems strained and does not appear to come as naturally as Elisa claims. Elisa has extensive knowledge concerning plants, most likely since, as a female, gardening remains the only thing that she thinks about.

She is so frustrated with living that she enthusiastically looks up to the tinker for inspiring conversation and also sex, two essentials that appear to be lacking in Elisa’s life. When the hope of mental and physical fulfillment vanishes with the tinker, her devastation implies how discontented Elisa is with her matrimony. She is too desperate to rise above the ensnare of being a woman, that Elisa seeks any flight, trying to tease her husband, requesting for wine with dinner, and also expressing concern in the bloody conflicts that only men typically attend. All of these do not truly gratify her, although, and it is cynical that she would ever get fulfillment.

Gender Inequality. The Chrysanthemums is a simple but pointed analysis of a society that disregards intelligent females. Elisa is ambitious, energetic, smart, and attractive, but all these characteristics go to waste. While the two main men in the narrative are less talented and interesting than Elisa, their lives are depicted as far more busy and fulfilling than Elisa’s. Henry is not as smart as Elisa, but he manages the ranch, supports his wife and himself, and makes the business deals. Elisa is frustrated since all she is expected to do is observe him from a distance as he performs his work. She feels frustrated as a woman in a man’s world since whatsoever information she obtains concerning the running of the ranch comes obliquely from Henry, who talks only in indistinct, condescending language instead of granting his wife the status of an equal spouse. According to Elisa, the tinker is more intelligent than her husband but does not have Elisa’s passion, spirit, or craving for exploration. According to Elisa, the tinker cannot match her skills as a tinker, but since he is the man, it is he who is allowed to ride all over the country, and having an adventurous life that is believed to be unfit for the female gender. The author uses the tinker and Henry as symbols of the paternalism existent in patriarchal societies in that just as the two men disregard women’s potential, so does society.

CONCLUSION

Elisa feelings of frustration with her life as a woman ensnared in a patriarchal society are also symbolized in the lack romance and children in her matrimony with Henry. In addition, her husband does not appreciate her feminine qualities as well as her sentimental needs. The experience with the tinker rekindles her sexuality and triggers hope to Elisa for an increasingly romantic and exciting marriage. On the contrary, her awareness that her life is not bound to transform is crystallized on seeing the flowers sprawled on the way. This devastates her totally to have to settle for a frustrating life.