Women have been degraded for many years, starting back in the Middle Ages in Europe. Through all these times, women have also tried to break free from this prison starting from the suffrages in our own country. Abigail Adams was one of the many who portrayed the suffrage characteristics. But what of the women who stayed as a house wife or liked their so-called prison. What of the women who thought there was no escaping from their women serves man world. In the story The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck and A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery OConnor, the similarities and the differences between the leading women show a glimpse of the past, as well as a life lesson. Both characters had many similarities.
Elisa and the Grandmother both were viewed as fragile women who did not associate with manly things as boxing or traveling. Elisa tried at least two times to reach the outside of her world by pointing out her intelligence or her gifts. For example, she told her husband how she can grow anything with her hands and how she read on opponents look in the boxing ring. But each time shes given a chance, she automatically thinks of her image and status in that time period, almost conditioned to react disgusted or not interested in things like boxing. She replies primly when he husband makes a joke, Oh no, No, I wouldnt like fights. (Steinbeck, 79) as if its the right thing to say. The Grandmother was also shown as a weak woman and should not be able to ride in the front seat, for she is old. She shows this characteristic in the beginning of the story, telling her son that they should not go to Florida because there is a criminal loose around there and her, and the children should not be anywhere near Florida.
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She also automatically sits in the back of the car before anyone else gets in, knowing that she cannot sit in the front for she is too old and more fragile compared to the wife of her son. Both characters know their status in their worlds and it shows in each story. Another similarity that was important in both stories was their failed attempt to escape from their world. Both women had one important event that actually gave each a chance to live another life, and to them, a better life then the one they already obtained. As they gave some effort, they were both rejected on how they approached their escape route. Elisa looked at the pot fixer and envied his life of freedom. She even saw the possibility of finding a man that just might think women are not all fragile and soft.
She started out with her conditioned responses, but once their conversation reached her chrysanthemums, her resistance flew away. Her chrysanthemums is a symbol of her life. She gives all her time and effort on growing them and for him to acknowledge her work, from a stranger, comforts her. She even gives him a compliment on how he describes the flower. When their conversation deepens, she begins to open up and allows him to see a different part of herself. She gives very vivid details on how she feels when planting and when he tries to give her a secret from him, she cuts him off.
You might say she jumped the gun for she immediately starts to tell him what she wants and how shes might get it. How she understands him and how happy she can make him, sexually. The author even shows the emotions in her voice and words, When the night is dark-why, the stars are sharp-pointed, and theres quiet. Why, you rise up and up! Every pointed star gets driven into you body. Its like that. Hot and sharp and-lovely. (Steinbeck, 83) almost giving him a picture of how it would be for her and maybe for him.
She also has a physically contact with him, maybe to see if he feels the same thing she feels. He then replies with a simple comment, stating that those stars would be nicer if he had dinner to go with it. Her rejection comes in two ways. She feels ashamed when she just opened herself slightly and he slams her back shut. The second time is when she sees her shoots and soil on the road. She thought at least some of her world will live freely like him, but realizes that its not reality and that it gives her the result if she tried to escape it. With the Grandmother, she doesnt even know shes been approached with a way to escape.
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She even uses her fragile appearance to get what she wants and her age to absolutely know that the Misfit is not a bad man. Telling him that she knows he came from good parents and that its bad if he shoots a lady, meaning herself. She even gives him advice and tells him that he should pray. But he opens himself to her, she almost sees a glimpse of what she may become, a better person than she is now. He then begins to blame Jesus for his crimes and tries to prove to the old lady that if he had seen his miracles, he would have been a whole different person. His emotions take the best of him and he shows the Grandmother his true self. This is her escape route, when she is listening to him tell his story, she has some kind of awakening and actually sees her self and the Misfit as better people.
She even tries to make this illusion reality when she tries to touch him, a physical contact. He then rejects her, because he knows reality and this lady is not powerful enough to just wipe away his sins and banish his punishment, only Jesus is. She did have an affect on him, though, for he got no pleasure out of killing her, Some fun! Bobby Lee said. Shut up, Bobby Lee, Its no real pleasure in life. (OConnor, 169).
Both characters have many differences, too.
Both personalities contrast completely. Elisa approached her outside world sexually. She wanted to give him the one thing she was taught men always wanted, sex. She thought it was her ticket out. Her flowers showed the reader that she was also unhappy with her lifestyle and that she used the flowers as a symbol of a man and that in this small world of hers, she rules over them. An example of this behavior is when shes cutting the flowers, even her work with the scissors was over-eager, over-powerful.
The chrysanthemum-stems seemed too small and easy for her energy.(Steinbeck, 79).
She also has a gift with her hands and planting, stating that she has planters hands. She tries to show that she is strong enough to plant bigger and better things to her husband, but once she sees that she is not even acknowledged, she gives up. Its like her mind is too conditioned to know that women dont work in fields or with men, but that their place is in the house or gardening near the house. The Grandmother had a different personality all her own. Right in the beginning of the story, she is shown as a selfish woman.
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She does not want to go to Florida and even uses the wife and children to influence her son. The children even know of her selfishness, She wouldnt stay home for a million bucks, Afraid shed miss something. She has to go everywhere we go. (OConnor, 157) She also uses her fragile appearance against her loved ones. Defying her son when taking the cat in the car when he asked her not too. She even pretended to be hurt when they had the accident so Bailey, her son, could not yell at her.
When they were faced with danger, she cared for only herself and stated about three times that they should not kill a day, implying that it is sinful and morally wrong. Not even attempting to save her son or grandchildren. When she finally realized her selfishness, it was too late. Elisa and the Grandmother were both women in a degrading society and both tried to escape it. Elisa approached it sexually, but the Grandmother saw it spiritually. They both were rejected, though Elisa has to live with her world until she dies, but the Grandmother was killed for the way she lived. Both stories show a glimpse of the past and also showed a life lesson..
