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 frustration with her marriage, her sense of isolation from the world and her hidden desires to express herself as a woman, to explore her sexuality and live a more passionate life.
The setting plays a significant role in the story. It reinforces Elisa's feelings of isolation from the world. The tale is set in the beautiful valley of Salinas, California, but with all its beauty, this location takes on the role of some sort of prison in which one could feel trapped. "The high grey-flannel fog of winter closed off the Salinas Valley from the sky and from all the rest of the world. …
