This document provides a final author study comparing the short stories "The Moths" by Helena Maria Viramontes and "The Chrysanthemums" by John Steinbeck. It analyzes the similarities in themes of inequality, feelings, relationships, and emotionally challenged characters between the stories. Differences in setting, time period, authors, and symbols used are also discussed. In conclusion, both stories address the sadness of isolated female protagonists and show the suppression of women's emotions, though they were written in different eras by different authors from California.

1. Final Author Study
Emilie Donald
June 22, 2012
Germanna Community College
Professor Hancock
English 236
“The Moths”
By Helena Maria Viramontes
&
“The Chrysanthemums”
By John Steinbeck
Final Author Study
Emilie Donald
June 22, 2012
Germanna Community College
Professor Hancock
English 236

2. Similarities

3. Character
“Moths” “The Chrysanthemums”
• Girl • Woman
• Isolated • Isolated
• Unappreciated • Unappreciated
• Frustrated • Frustrated
• Ignored • Ignored
• Gardening pleasures • Gardening pleasures

4. Theme
“The Moths” “The Chrysanthemums”
• Inequality • Inequality
• Feelings
• Relationships • Feelings
• Traditions • Relationships
• Emotionally Challenged
• Life changes • Emotionally Challenged
• Death • Life changes
• Quote: "There comes a time when the sun is
defiant. Just about the time when moods change, • Sexuality
inevitable seasons of a day, transitions from one
color to another, that hour or second or minute • Quote: "The high gray-flannel fog of
when the sun is finally defeated, finally sinks into winter closed off the Salinas Valley
the realization that it cannot with all its power to from the sky and from all the rest
heal or burn, exist forever, there comes an
illumination where the sun and earth meet, a final of the world. On every side it sat
burst of burning red orange fury reminding us that like a lid on the mountains and
although endings are inevitable, they are necessary
for rebirths (1334).“ made of the great valley a closed
pot (811).“

5. Differences

6. Setting
“The Moths” “The Chrysanthemums”
• Grandma’s house • Valley
• Church • Home – ranch
• Store • Car
• Home • Time - past
• Time - recent

7. Authors
Helena Maria Viramontes John Steinbeck
• 1954- • 1902-1908
• Born in California • Born in California
• Female • Male
• Chicanes • Nobel Prize winner 1962
• Story written 1985 • Story written 1938

8. Conclusion
Symbols Thoughts
• The Moths – the moths were • The two stories are written
located in the mixture that Abuelita
placed on granddaughters hand – in different times and with
(moths symbolize negative different setting by different
feelings); the moths were present
when Abuelita died – (moths authors, however, they both
symbolize oppression of women). address similarities with the
Quote: “the moths that lay within sadness of both the main
the soul and slowly eat the spirit up
(1330).” characters. Also, both
• Chrysanthemums – when noticed stories show the inequality
by the tinker, it was like he actually of women, the suppression
noticed he – (flower symbolizes
Elisa’s personal self). Quote: of their emotions and inner
turmoil.

9. Works Cited
Martin, Wendy. The Art of the Short Story. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company,2006
“The Chrysanthemums.” Steinbeck, John. 811-819
“The Moths.” Viramontes, Helena Maria. 1332-1335