Elisa was a typical housewife that lived her life according to society’s views of what gender roles a woman should represent. Elisa was like many other women from this time, where she devoted all of her energy to her daily routines, which consisted of taking care of the house, her husband, cooking, and cleaning. She did not have any kids or animals to take care of. The narrator described Elisa as, “Her face was lean and strong and her eyes were as clear as water. Her figure looked blocked and heavy in her gardening costume, a man’s black hat pulled low down over her eyes, clod-hopper shoes, a figured print dress almost completely covered by a big corduroy apron with four big pockets to hold the snips, the trowel and scratcher, the seeds and the knife she worked with”, (Steinbeck, para 5). Then after Elisa’s husband Henry walked away she smirked, “I’ll have plenty of time transplant some of these sets, I guess”, (Steinbeck, para 24). This is a representation of how Elisa spent most of her time. Elisa likes to brag about her green thumb and does enjoy the fruits of her beautiful blossoming flowers. Although, Elisa has a connection to nature this is not necessarily volunteered; her connection seems forced. Most likely because of the gender roles of society and being a woman she unconisisly feels that gardening is a feminine thing to do, which is why she continues to pursue gardening. Another example of how society’s gender roles prohibit women from their potential is from the story The Yellow Wallpaper. Else is a stay at home wife set in the late nineteenth century who starts to become hysterical because of gender restraints and having to stay confined to her home. Her Husband John diagnoses her with hysteria and wants her to stay in bed until she gets well. Else then states, “Personally, I disagree with their ideas. Personally, I believe that congenial work. with excitement and change, would do me good. But what is one to do?”, (Gilman, para 14). Else like Elisa both feel that work and getting out of the house are things that both genders should partake in, however both of them are weighed down by the tyranny of man and forced to live an mundane and simplistic life.
The potential for Elisa to live a fulfilling and exciting life is inhibited by social restraints and causing her to live in social isolation. Elisa relationship with her husband is more functional and passive; like a relationship between siblings. A general contractor stopped at Elisa’s house when she was outside gardening. The contractor is an all around can fix anything type of man who stopped by looking for work. Elisa was at first annoyed by the contractor until he started taking an interest in her chrysanthemums. The narrator describe what he look liked, “His worn black suit was wrinkled and spotted with grease… His eyes were dark, and they were full of the brooding that gets in the eyes of teamsters and of sailors. The calloused hands he rested on the wire fence were cracked, and every crack was a black line’, (Steinbeck, para 32). The contractor was not a handsome man or even charming. The narrator described Elisa’s conversation with the contractor stating, “She was kneeling on the ground looking up at him. Her breast swelled passionately. The man’s eyes narrowed. He looked away self-consciously. “Maybe I know,” he said. “Sometimes in the night in the wagon there–“Elisa’s voice grew husky. She broke in on him.
