In a small world, there isn't much choice for a simple woman. Throughout history, women are often portrayed as the weaker sex. As a result of this assumption, women try to disassociate themselves from this custom and be more independent in their lives. One of John Steinbeck's most successful stories is "The Chrysanthemums", the story of Elisa's unhappy marriage which takes place in the Salinas Valley in California. Elisa is forced into a miserable existence on her husband's ranch. Especially for Elisa the world is as small as it appears and she no longer wants to be part of it. She feels trapped in a life of servitude and represses the desire for something more. Elisa then takes a courageous step towards her own providence. "The Chrysanthemums" is a coming-of-age story for a woman and a wife named Elisa, portrayed as feminine, submissive and conservative, although the reality is that she is instead a masculine, frustrated and sensual woman who wants more. of the life that Henry offers her. Therefore, his performance shows his dissatisfaction with his marriage. Many times throughout the story, Elisa's portrayal shows her male gender role which leads to her dissatisfaction in her life. Elisa's strength almost reaches the point of masculinity. For example, Elisa is described in the story as powerful, beautiful, strong, eager, and thin (Diyanni 460). Elisa could easily be mistaken for a man by the way she dresses. She wears manly clothes and could be mistaken for a man from afar. From the way she looks and dresses, she feels limited and undervalued as a woman, which increases her dissatisfaction. Furthermore, according to Elizabeth McMahan, one of the critics of short story criticism, s...... middle of paper ......d As Met.” Short Stories for Study, Harvard University Pres pp.115-52.McMahan, Elizabeth E. Short Story Criticism. vol. 2. Ed. David Segal. Second ed. United Kingdom: Gale Research International Limited, 1992. 214-16. Print.Palmerino, Gregory J. “Steinbeck's 'Chrysanthemums'.” The Explicator 62.3 (2004): 164+.Literature Resource Center. Network. March 6. 2012. Master plots. Chrysanthemums. The Big Sky: The Confidential Employee. vol. 2. Ed. Laurence W. Mazenno. Fourth ed. Pasadena, California: Salem Press, 1949. 1011-12. Print.Schultz, Jeffrey, and Luchen Li. Critical Companion to John Steinbeck A literary reference to his life and work. New York: Checkmark Books, 2005. 50-52. Print.Steinbeck, John. "The chrysanthemums." Literature is close to fiction, poetry and drama. Ed. Robert Di Yanni. Second ed. Boston: New York University, 2008. 459-66. Press.