The settings in "The Chrysanthemums" and "To Set Our House in Order" bring to life the confinement of Elisa and Grandmother MacLeod. Elisa is painfully aware she is trapped in a man's world while Grandmother MacLeod is unaware of being trapped in the past. .
From the onset of "The Chrysanthemums" a tone of isolation is introduced: "The high gray-flannel fog of winter closed off the Salinas Valley from the sky and from the rest of the world. On every side it sat like a lid and made of the great valley a closed pot" (Steinbeck 214). This sense of confinement continues as we see Elisa enclosed by a wire fence and working in her garden. Her work is limited to this wire enclosure and the house. The rest of the farm is reserved for her husband's labours. In contrast his area covers a vast territory and offers various types of work. He has contact with the outside world. He uses motor vehicles such as tractors, the fordson, and the roadster meaning he has freedom to move around. These surroundings describe a physical world where Elisa is confined inside a man's world. Further evidence of this entrapment is in the description of her clothes: "Her figure looked blocked and heavy in her gardening costume, a man's black hat, clodhopper shoes, a figured printed dress almost completely covered by a big corduroy apron"( Steinbeck 214). Although Elisa knows, "I've got a gift with things" (Steinbeck 215), and she has ambition, "her work with the scissors was over-eager, over-powerful. The chrysanthemums seemed too small and easy for her energy" (Steinbeck 214), she has nowhere to use her talent. It is the Great Depression when only the necessities were valuable leaving Elisa's talent worthless. This is played out in the retelling of the arrival of the travelling man. His desperation is evident when he says in a whining undertone, "Maybe I won't have no supper tonight" (Steinbeck 216), and "Only when you don't have no dinner, it ain't" (Steinbeck 218).
For example, John Krakauer's story Into the Wild displays the resistance of fitting into society and all of its confinements by the main character Chris McCandless. ... Although Into the Wild was a more physical form of individualism, Emily Dickinson was still a representation of this theme. ... Works of literature are meant for people to learn. ...
The Theme of Eveline: The Aspect of Modern Human Existence The story "Eveline", which is written by James Joyce, opens in a seemingly nostalgia but when it ends, the heroine is stricken with a suddenly frenzy of distress. ... People find it hard to fly freely outside, just like birds caged for long, thought they definitely don't like the confinement. ... Eveline's tragedy, as of may others, is confinement and indecisiveness. ... Again this favorite theme of modern literature is successfully flashed out of this short story "Eveline". ...
One of the major themes explored in literature is the idea of belonging. ... Both Peter Skrzynecki and John Hughes demonstrate just how important the ideas and aspects of belonging are in literature and how they help bring the feeling alive. ... Similar to the ideals of belonging explored Peter Skrzynecki's poem 'Feliks Skrzynecki' they can also be seen in his poem 'Migrant Hostel' Simply by title shows the labelling as migrants immediately excludes the people from those in the society of which they have arrived, while Hostel connotates a temporary dwelling and an...
Often times in literature, an author utilizes specific literary devices to enhance an overall work. ... (p.34) The commentary in Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, and Drama also pointed out the author's diction to lay the foundation for irony. ... Karen Bernardo imparted how the theme of Chopin's short story "deals with an ironic twist." The irony herein was that Louis does not recognize her own confinement and dissatisfaction until her husband was declared dead. ...
Sexuality in Medieval literature Rules of medieval society clearly depict that it is a man's world, but medieval literature seems to reverse this notion. ... It is the woman's character in medieval literature that has no boundaries. ... Even though there are certain standards for a woman's sexuality, in medieval literature there is no confinement of these ladies. Even though we, as readers, delight in categorizing and labeling typical character roles in literature, there is no set role for the women in medieval literature. ... On the other hand, there is the male character...
No longer is literature responsible for explanation, but it now has the power to question. ... With the evolution of the Gothic novel, for the first time literature was perceived as limitless. ... Its great themes are incest and cannibalism. ... According to Barron's Horror Literature, this depiction of the church as a threat meets the first criteria for a Gothic novel in that "Gothic characters must feel enclosed by menacing buildings and by other circumstances of enclosure within the Gothic structure Claustrophobic confinement is the psychic imperative of all Gothic fiction" (p8 Barr...
No longer is literature responsible for explanation, but it now has the power to question. ... With the evolution of the Gothic novel, for the first time literature was perceived as limitless. ... Its great themes are incest and cannibalism. ... According to Barron's Horror Literature, this depiction of the church as a threat meets the first criteria for a Gothic novel in that "Gothic characters must feel enclosed by menacing buildings and by other circumstances of enclosure within the Gothic structure Claustrophobic confinement is the psychic imperative of all Gothic fiction" (p8 Barr...
Characterized by a fearless desire to achieve originality, the writings of Golding present new and daring themes. ... This literary technique is used to give a significance to the major characters and objects which represent a minor theme or figure relating to the story. ... As a child, Golding was devoted to books and had a pristine love for literature. ... His distinct belief that evil is a constant influence to the destruction of man acts as the main theme. ... States of confinement and restraint are two of society's most common traits. ...
Although a work of literature may have all forms of setting, there is usually one dominant form. ... The theme of this story, Love is giving and receiving, is shown through the setting in this story. ... Time is the most significant element of setting within this piece of literature. ... The most difficult of all six pieces of literature is, "The Love Song of J. ... The closed windows represent confinement; therefore the writer is letting you know that the character feels trapped in his miserable life. ...
