Blog #4

Throughout literature, many authors have used their life experiences, views on the environment and government to illustrate their ideas and creative literature skills. In the story, "the chrysanthemums", Elisa, Henry and the stranger help illustrate gender criticism. Gender criticism is used to express critcism in gender in ways that we commonly conceive it to be. For example, the woman is to be in the kitchen cooking and cleaning, while the man should be working and supporting his family. Elisa's character is presented as strong, masculine and not really in a female form of attraction. Henry compliments her flower garden but not his wife. The stranger that came to the ranch when Henry was gone was able to easily infiltrate Elisa's invisible guard and trick her into getting work through her by appealing to the female side of Elisa. Elisa probably rarely feels feminine about herself so the stranger had it easy to trick her. After being used she was upset but realized that in the outside world all men are the same.