John Steinbeck's “The Chrysanthemums” Essay

In John Steinbeck’s The Chrysanthemums, the reader is introduced to the seemingly timid and shy Elisa Allen. Elisa is routinely planting her yearly sets of Chrysanthemums, which appear to be the sole receptor of her caring and gentle touch, but all the while it is evident that “the chrysanthemum stems seemed too small and easy for her energy.” Her hidden eagerness seems not only out of place, but out of touch with her dry and wilted surroundings, of which her husband, Henry, abruptly interrupts her

John Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums” is a great short story filled with symbols. “Symbolism is the art or practice of using symbols especially by investing things with a symbolic meaning or by expressing the invisible or intangible by means of visible or sensuous representations: such as an artistic imitation or invention that is a method of revealing or suggesting immaterial, ideal, or otherwise intangible truth or states” (Symbolism, n.d.). Steinbeck used symbolism throughout this work to create

Symbolism in John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" In "The Chrysanthemums" John Steinbeck develops a theme of limitations. The story is essentially a man in the mirror story where the rigid Elisa sees herself for the first time as trapped. Although Elisa has recognized her life as limited and confining, she sadly accepts her life as is and does nothing to rectify her situation. In John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" symbolism of the fence, the garden, and the chrysanthemums help illustrate

John Steinbeck's 'The Chrysanthemums' and D.H. Lawrence's 'The Odour of Chrysanthemums' Women in the 1900s were given little attention. John Steinbeck and D.H Lawrence however have chosen to base their short stories on a single woman character and around a type of flower, which is the chrysanthemum. Though written by male writers, both stories give an insight of the feelings and actions of a female character in that time period and how chrysanthemums can mean an entirely different obsession

In John Steinbeck's short story, "The Chrysanthemums," he uses the flower to symbolize his main character's 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 face

The Unfulfilled Elisa in John Steinbeck's The Chrysanthemums “The Chrysanthemums” is a short story in The Long Valley, a collection of short stories by John Steinbeck. This story dramatizes the efforts made by a housewife, Elisa Allen, to compensate for the disappointments which she has encountered in her life. Steinbeck makes it clear that Elisa yearns for something more in her life then the everyday routines of farm life. While Elisa is portrayed as strong, in the end, her strength serves

Sexuality in Steinbeck's The Chrysanthemums   Reading over this excellent story once more, I am again filled with the same emotion (if it can be called that) that I experienced when first reading it.  Steinbeck planned for that.  In a letter to George Albee in 1933, Steinbeck comments on this story and his interest in Albee's opinion of it.  "...It is entirely different and is designed to strike without the reader's knowledge.  I mean he reads it casually and after it

In John Steinbeck’s “Chrysanthemums” multiple hidden meanings and messages are placed in the story. Steinbeck roots underlying themes and symbols throughout the story. The short story is about a day in the life of a young woman, Elisa, who grows chrysanthemums. Steinbeck shows how women are portrayed in society through Elisa and the way she is treated. The ranch where Elisa lives is an allegory for society’s view of women, on the ranch, Elisa is not included in business affairs and despite her

In the short story “The Chrysanthemum” by John Steinbeck, a woman named Elise Allen loved planting, her favorite were Chrysanthemums. She was known for planting these because her flowers turned out unbelievable. “Some of those yellow Chrysanthemums you had this year were ten inches across. I wish you’d work out in the orchard and raise some apples that big.”(282) says Elise’s husband

of Symbols and Symbolism in John Steinbeck's The Chrysanthemums            John Steinbeck's 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 husband's 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-self