How Does Steinbeck Use Of Symbolism In Chrysanthemums

Elisa, also a housewife, usually had activities involved in routine housework and maintaining her flower garden, that was filled with chrysanthemums. She took care of the chrysanthemums as if they were her children, and being a farmers’ wife, she had more free time than her husband, Henry. When the tinker, also known as the tin man, came up to Elisa for work he tried to manipulate her into giving him some work to do. When the tinker saw there was no way Elisa would give him work, he tried to work her. “What’s them plants, ma’am?” (Steinbeck, 208). Tinker asked Elisa about the plants probably so he could influence her about chrysanthemums- that way they bond on the subject of the flowers and from there Elisa started to explain the importance of these flowers. Elisa doesn’t realize she’s being played with until near the end when tinker finally leaves she waves goodbye to him but her voice drops as she says the word “Goodbye to goodbye”, finding that the tinker threw Elisa’s chrysanthemums away (Steinbeck, 210). This quote showed the attachment for the chrysanthemums Elisa had, and the minute the tinker threw away those flowers, it broke Elisa’s heart. This makes Elisa thinks about how a man can get what he wants while Elisa

Together, these similes contribute to a nuanced portrayal of Elisa's internal struggles to portray a housewives perspective, underscore the delicate balance between confinement and the yearning for empowerment in a patriarchal world. By employing the symbolism of the chrysanthemums, the audience interprets an idea of yearning for recognition and fulfillment, which explores a strong feminist

We get our next glimpse into the struggles she is internally suffering when her house is introduced to us as “hard swept” (Steinbeck 348). Elisa extends her insecurities and sorrow onto over-compensating in tending to the house she shares with her husband. The exchange between Elisa and her husband is cold and uncompassionate as they discuss their plans for dinner and a movie. He stands outside the wire fence which serves as a wall between Elisa and the rest of society. As her husband leaves to herd their cattle she watches and swiftly returns to tending her garden.

     John Steinbeck uses symbolism to give alternate meanings to his short story “Chrysanthemums.'; A symbol is a device used to suggest more than its literary meaning. He uses these symbols to look further into the characters and their situations. The character Elisa has a garden, which is more than just a garden, and the chrysanthemums that she tends are more than just flowers. There are actions that she performs in the story, which also have other meanings.

Early twentieth century America is shaped by World War I , the effects of industrial growth, and a beginning of a new age in literature. Despite movements for progressive reforms like the prohibition of alcohol and the movement for women’s suffrage women’s rights were still limited by traditional gender roles. Women are a “detached portion” of their husbands and expected to submit to his every demand. As result of women being viewed as flighty and emotionally unstable, men must take the dominant role and every decision made in the family is approved by them. Moreover, the purpose of a woman’s life is to maintain a household and birth and care for her

Elisa is especially proud of her chrysanthemums and how big they are this year. Steinbeck exhibited this pride Elisa portrayed as "she straightened her back and pulled on the gardening gloves again. Yes they'll be strong this coming year." Elisa worked hard at her garden and it was important to her. In fact it was the only thing she had to be proud of. For Elisa the chrysanthemums symbolized the work she feels she is capable of as a

John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" shows the true feelings of the main character, Elisa Allen, through the use of setting and her interactions with other characters in the story. By way of vivid descriptions, Elisa's feelings of dissatisfaction over the lack of excitement in her life are portrayed. Her role as a mere housewife and then the subsequent change to feelings of a self-assured woman are clearly seen. These inner feelings are most apparent with the portrayal of Elisa working in the garden with the chrysanthemums, the conversation she has with the man passing through, and finally, when she and her husband are going out to dinner.

Throughout history, women have been put below men and have not been treated as equals, this story is no different. Women and flowers have always been associated, but in this story, it is a very different kind of correlation. The chrysanthemums represent the main character, Elisa, as a woman and reflect on the way she views herself and, more specifically, her life.

The chrysanthemums by john steinbeck describes a hard, energetic, working woman who isn't satisfied with her life. She withholds her inner self because she's afraid of what impressions society may have on her. Although she is in a happy marriage her emotions triggers in due to the failure her husband doesnt shows. One day working in her garden a stranger comes along and elisa changes. The stranger gives her things that was lacking in her marriage. Such as; communication, and affection. She is now comfortable since it is being noticed by someone else who may seem to have interest in her. A metaphor is a word used to represent something such as a symbol without using the word like or as. (Longman 920) In this story there are several metaphors used dealing with strength, passion, sexuality, and embarrassment. Metaphors are important because they help one understand abstract or unfamiliar things. Whenever we can't grasp content our brains function so we can get better sense of it. Often metaphors bring on emotions. Different emotions can be memorable. Also

There are many symbolic references to Elisa Allen as a sexually repressed and frustrated woman. One representation of the chrysanthemum is Elisa's passion and eagerness to live and experience life a content woman. While tending her chrysanthemums "she pulled out the crisp little roots and trimmed of the leaves of each one with her scissors (Steinbeck 1464)." This is a symbolism of Elisa Allen closing off all opportunities to grow as a sexual woman; She has resigned herself to the monotonous life as a complacent farmer's wife (Lee 1). The "figured print dress (Steinbeck 1463)" under the apron shows the readers that Elisa is aware of her sexuality but instead of acting on it has chosen to subdue it. She keeps her sexuality and passions under control like she cares for her chrysanthemums "laid [in a] small [and] orderly pile (Steinbeck 1464)" (Lee 1). Elisa begins to allow this sexuality to emerge when the traveling tinker romantically describes her

John Ernst Steinbeck, Jr. was born in the farm and ranch based town of Salinas, California to the county treasurer and his wife on February 27, 1902. Being born into a well-off family, he could afford the luxury of hopping from job to job helping ranchers and later attending Stanford University, only to leave without a degree. Altogether, he appears to be the average college student nowadays from our dreamer generation. Four years he published his first novel, Cup of Gold, and over the course of time he found his niche as a fiction writer with a focus on drawing attention to some real life issues he’d witnessed firsthand, growing up on the edge of the last frontier in the west. He ended up publishing The Chrysanthemums in 1938, recalling the

“Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck was written in 1937 when the transition of women from typical housewife standards to the working world was occurring. Steinbeck’s feature character, Elisa, an atypical woman with a love for gardening, embodies the pressures that women face from society when they attempt to express themselves in ways that go against societal standards. In “Chrysanthemums,” Steinbeck uses symbolism to reveal how societal standards cause women to miss out on opportunities and become frustrated because of their inability to express themselves.

The symbolism “The Chrysanthemums”, by John Steinbeck describes the character of Elisa Allen as someone who isn’t loved by her husband, Henry Allen. Throughout the story the author mentions Henry and Elisa don’t sleep together, they both have their separate rooms. When the Tinker showed up to the Allen’s ranch Elisa became confident about her feeling more feminine. The attention Elisa was getting made her act like a dog. The character of Elisa symbolizes her being a caged animal because she is isolated from the world.

‘The Chrysanthemums,' authored by John Steinbeck, is about a woman named Elisa Allen. She feels disillusioned by the state of her marriage. The frustration that she feels hails from the fact that she does not have a child with her husband. She, therefore, seeks solace from her flower garden, where she cultivates chrysanthemums in a bid to attain self-worth. (Steinbeck).

Steinbeck introduces Elisa, the main character, as a masculine young woman with a “face lean and strong” (Steinbeck 209) and “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, “You’ve got