Breaking Free - The Chrysanthemums This is a character breakdown and analysis of Elisa Allen. This discusses the symbolism of the chrysanthemum garden and her repression.

Jennifer Bowman Professor Chambers English 1302 6 June 2002 Breaking Free Throughout history, women have been portrayed as the weaker sex. As a result of these unfair social assumptions, women have been working hard to dissociate themselves from this stereotype and become more independent with their lives. Many prominent writers have addressed this matter in their stories. John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" is one of those famous stories that deal with the feminist issue. The story describes Elisa Allen's …

…men were the only support of a family and women were at hand to serve them. However, the further we delve into the story, we discover a woman of outstanding will trying to force herself into society as an individual. Even though her revolution is short-lived, Elisa comes of age, so to say, by discovering the world beyond her garden and coming into the realization that she too could make a difference in the world.