In John Steinbeck's story, "The Chrysanthemus" he tells a story of a married woman who, like most women, wanted to be equal to men in the society's eyes. Elisa Allen is the wife in the center of attention all through the story. She shows many characteristics of being equal to a man, but also shows many of being feminine, which she wishes not to be as much. In Elisa's eyes, you have to be able to do what a man can do in order to be equal to him and that includes not showing any signs of being feminine. It is put into example form in three parts of this story how Elisa deals with her want to be equal and her slow regression to being passive.
The first indication of Elisa's masculinity is when she is first described. She is described as " blocked and heavy in her gardening costume ." She was wearing " heavy leather gloves a man's black hat pulled down over her eyes clod-hopper shoes and a big corduroy apron ." Also, when her husband comes to the side of her garden, he compliments her crop by calling it, " a strong new crop ." Elisa responds back to him by saying, "" Yes. They"ll be strong this coming year- on her face there was a little smugness ." Elisa enjoys the idea that her husband sees something she does in this way. She only feels different when her husband offers to take her out to a night in town. To her, that is feminine thing to do.
The second example of Elisa's need to feel equal to males is when the tinker shows up on her property. She plays the masculine role by telling the tinker that she doesn't have any help for him. The tinker knows he is speaking with a woman under her gardening costume, so he continues to persuade her into letting him help her with something. He explains that, " I aint had a thing to do today. Maybe I won't have no supper tonight ." He then decides to hit Elisa in a soft spot by asking about her garden. Elisa finally decides to get him something to do, which shows her feminine side of giving in and she also takes off her gardening costume revealing her feminine beauty.
