The stories "Eveline" and "The Chrysanthemums" are examples of stories with women that need more fulfillment in their lives. Eveline and Elisa want their lives to be filled with love and purpose. However, both women feel that they are not getting what they want out of life. Eveline and Elisa need to play roles in their homes that they do not fit. They both do not feel loved and look for love in places other than inside their home. Both women are trapped inside worlds that are not large enough for them. Eveline and Elisa do not feel fulfilled and want more in life.
             Both Eveline and Elisa have hard lives at home. Eveline and Elisa are stuck playing roles that they do not get pleasure from. Eveline grew up in an abusive household. After her mother passes away, her life at home becomes exhausting and unfulfilling. Her mother asks her to keep the family together before she dies and Eveline takes on this role, which makes her very unhappy. Eveline is trapped by familial, economic and social pressure into an imperfect situation. She works very hard at home and she works outside of her home as well.
             Elisa does not have a good quality of life at home either. Elisa is in a loveless marriage and she feels as though she does not accomplish anything significantly important during the day. She puts on a masculine persona to feel like she is a man, because men seem to get more gratification in life. Elisa and her husband also do not have children. Elisa may be more fulfilled if she had children to care for. Most farming families have many children so the children can help out around the farm. The fact that this couple has no children represents the lack of love and sexual energy between them.
             Both Eveline and Elisa are looking and searching for love in places other than their home. Elisa looks toward the peddler for love and perhaps lust. Initially the peddler only seems like a nuisance to Elisa, but r...