John Steinbeck The Chrysanthemums Symbolism

Symbolism tells a reader what they want to hear. The short story “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck follows a married woman named Elisa Allen as she struggles to accept her place as a woman in society. She is constantly reminded of her inferior position and longs for an escape. Steinbeck cleverly employs symbolism in the story to discuss many topics that were viewed as taboo at the time. Symbolism provides a reader with both subtle and distinct details to understand what is not being said aloud in a short story. The title of the story clearly points out the most obvious symbol in the story: the chrysanthemums. Elisa Allen’s beloved chrysanthemums represent her identity, femininity, and sexuality as a woman. The story never mentions the couple having children, but it is apparent to the reader that Elisa wants to have them. She tends to her beautiful flowers almost as if they were children as “she pull[s] out the little crisp shoots, trim[s] off the leaves of each one with her scissors and [lies] it on a small orderly pile” (Steinbeck 420). She affectionately cares for each flower individually and claims to have “planters’ hands,” similar to a “mother’s touch.” After talking business with a couple of men, Henry Allen comes over to his wife as she is working in her garden. He points out her skill with the flowers, but says that he wishes she could help him out in the orchard. Then he tells her that they should go out to celebrate a good business deal he has just made. He