Adrian College English instructor, Cynthia Bily, in her article, “‘The Chrysanthemums’” (2002), claims that Elisa’s situation ties directly to the concept of ecofeminism and her natural connection to the earth. She supports her claim by first expressing Elisa’s connection to the earth as a natural phenomena through her garden, then by explaining how her “planter’s hand” is a gift that is naturally occurring, and finally by describing how men fail to recognize Elisa and her garden as a sense of strength, preventing them to not connect with the earth as she does. Bily’s purpose is to explain how ecofeminism is tied to the story, “The Chrysanthemums” to her audience. She creates a formal and educational tone for readers wishing to expand on “The
