In the texts ‘The Drover’s Wife’ by Henry Lawson ‘Chrysanthemums’ by John Steinbeck, the main characters all break or challenge the gender stereotypes placed upon them. These texts portray the main characters’ struggle to be different and take on a different aspect of their stereotype.
In ‘The Drover’s Wife”, the drover’s wife is described by the narrator as a “gaunt, sun-browned bush woman” which communicates the idea that she is fragile, thin and exposed to the harsh elements of the bush. The use of symbolism in the text such as “the handkerchief is full of holes” represents the drovers wife as worn out, and shows that she has suffered a lot with the absence of her husband. She is also portrayed as a brave, heroic woman who takes the role of her husband while he is out drovin
...g. She assumes the male role by symbolically putting on “an old pair of her husband’s trousers”, and shows no fear when it comes to battling the snake.
Despite portraying the strong, fearless female role, the drover’s wife is depicted as a sensitive, caring woman who has her limits, as represented by the quote “There are things that a bush woman cannot do.
” In the short story chrysanthemums, Steinbeck examines the unjust treatment towards women, as well as representing them as capable, strong minded people who deserve the same respect as men. Steinbeck explores the oppression of women in the short story chrysanthemums when the man says to Elisa that a life of travel is not for women and that it is too lonely. "It must be very nice. I wish women could do such things." Elisa's wistful tone and
repetition of how nice life on the road is reveals that she is suffocating in her life, wishing for freedom and equality, where women can do whatever men do. The man emphatically contradicts her by saying that "It ain't the right kind of a life for a woman.
” This suggests that women are to keep to one place, mainly a house, and find it difficult to leave, as they need a stationary home. "
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