The Use of Symbols in John Steinbeck’s The Chrysanthemums...

In John Steinbeck’s â€Å"The Chrysanthemums†, he uses the chrysanthemums, fence, and garden to symbolize Elisa’s thoughts and feelings throughout his story. He uses these symbols to show love, neglect, loneliness, protection, and passion for his characters. Steinbeck introduces Elisa, the main character, as a masculine young woman with a â€Å"face lean and strong† (Steinbeck 209) and â€Å"her figure looked blocked and heavy in her gardening costume, a man’s black hat...clod-hopper shoes.† (Steinbeck 209) He lets the chrysanthemums symbolize Elisa’s true beauty. She feels that her husband does not see her as beautiful woman. All he can see is a house wife and a gardener. He shows little interest in the chrysanthemums. When Henry says, â€Å"You’ve got†¦show more content†¦If the chrysanthemums were to die, so would Elisa. Elisa protects her garden with â€Å"wire fence that protected her flower garden from cattle and dogs and chickens.† (Steinbeck 210) The fence also protects Elisa from the man’s world. It isolates her and gives her a clear view but does not let her get tangled in it. The fence is her boundary of her world and as long as she stays within the boundaries she will be safe. Elisa does step outside the fence when the tinker comes to visit. He shows her a little bit of attention by taking interest in her chrysanthemums so that she will find him something to fix. He describes the chrysanthemums as â€Å"Kind of a long-stemmed flower? Looks like a quick puff of colored smoke?† (Steinbeck 212) she finds herself flattered by his comments. The chrysanthemums symbolize her femininity and sexuality when â€Å"she tore off the battered hat and shook out her dark pretty hair. The tinker restores her feeling about her femininity and sexuality. He made her realize that she did not need to step outside of her boundaries. All she needs to do is to make herself look more feminine. â€Å"She scrubbed herself with a little block of pumice, legs and thighs, loins and chest and arms, until her skin was scratched and red.† (Steinbeck 214) Elisa wears her best dress â€Å"which is the symbol of her prettiness† (Steinbeck 214) to impress Henry. HeShow MoreRelatedThe Use of Symbols in John Steinbecks The Chrysanthemums720 Words   |  3 PagesIn John Steinbecks short story, The Chrysanthemums, he uses the flower to symbolize his main characters thoughts and ideas. There are many examples of such symbolism in this work. Elisa Allen is a lonely woman who enjoys growing and nourishing her chrysanthemums. Since her husband is always working the cattle in their farm, she never has enough attention or any kind of affection. The result of this dispassionate marriage leads Steinbeck to describe his main character as follows, Her faceRead More Use of Symbols and Symbolism in John Steinbecks The Chrysanthemums944 Words   |  4 PagesUse of Symbols and Symbolism in John Steinbecks The Chrysanthemums  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      John Steinbecks short story The Chrysanthemums is about a proud, strong woman named Elisa Allen who feels frustrated with her present life. Her frustration stems from not having a child and from her husbands failure to admire her romantically as a woman. The only outlet for her frustration is her flower garden where she cultivates beautiful chrysanthemums. Steinbeck uses chrysanthemums as symbols of the inner-selfRead MoreEssay about Symbolism in The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck700 Words   |  3 PagesSymbolism in The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck At first glance John Steinbecks The Chrysanthemums seems to be a story of a woman whose niche is in the garden. 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The title of the book is a reference to the symbols and plot of the story, a Chrysanthemum being a symbolic flower for the protagonist, Elisa Allen. The story is set during the Great Depression, and therefore marriage by arrangement was common in agricultural areas, as finding food and shelter were more important than childhood ambitions, as Elisa learned the hard wayRead MoreThe Chrysanthemums By John Steinbeck982 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Chrysanthemums† is a short story written by John Steinbeck. The story was originally published in 1937 before later being released as a part of his The Long Valley collection. This is an important story as it expresses women in a way that is more realistic, showing their true boredom, ambition, and capabilities. Some scholars interpreted this story differently, but C. Kenneth Pellow interprets it as â€Å"radically femin istic.† The Great Depression was finally ending and women’s rights were risingRead More Symbols and Symbolism - Flowers as a Symbol in John Steinbecks The Chrysanthemums983 Words   |  4 PagesFlowers as a Symbol in The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck      Ã‚  Ã‚   In romantic or sexual context, a woman is often said to be as beautiful as a flower. In John Steinbecks short story The Chrysanthemums, Elisa Allen never receives this recognition. Although she is a strong woman, she is frustrated because her husband will not admire her romantically in any way. This frustration only deepens because she is childless and feels the need to be a mother. She discovers an outlet for her frustration