"The Chrysanthemums", one of John Steinbeck's masterpieces, describes a lonely farmer's wife, Elisa Allen. Elisa Allen's physical appearance is very mannish yet still allows a hint of a feminine side to peek through. John Steinbeck brings symbolism into play to represent Elisa Allen's frustrations and hidden passions. Isolation is another representation through symbolism found in "The Chrysanthemums." Elisa's failing detached marriage is represented through two symbols. The two reoccurring symbols are the chrysanthemums and fences. John Steinbeck draws pity from the reader for Elisa Allen who desperately wishes to experience the passions of a fulfilling marriage and the stimulation of a man's life. Through symbolism in "The Chrysanthemums," John Steinbeck creates a sexually repressed and discouraged Elisa Allen who is isolated from society however still retaining their values and is also trapped in a fruitless marriage.

Elisa Allen and her repressed sexuality are introduced to the readers through a manly appearance with a small clue of a womanly figure making an effort to peer through. This suppressed sexuality will eventually symbolically emerge. Elisa's symbolic clothing sh

Fences in "The Chrysanthemums" are the barriers that separate Elisa from the rest of the world, including her husband Henry. Her fences protect "flower garden from cattle, dogs, and chickens (Steinbeck 1463)" while isolating Elisa and keeping her from realizing what she is missing out on in life (Lee 1). The cattle, dogs, and chickens represent her husband's world while her flower garden represents Elisa's world. The fence is separating Elisa from her husband. "He had come near quietly, and leaned over the wire fence (Steinbeck 1463)." This shows that Henry is always treading softly around Elisa, courteous but always leaning over careful not to intrude into the woman's world (Lee 1). The Tinker's caravan pulls "up to Elisa's wire fence and stop[s] (Steinbeck 1464)." The Tinker, bearer of outside influences begins by resting his hands on the wire fence "and made it sing (Steinbeck 1465). As the meeting progresses and Elisa's sexuality is awakening the Tinker begins to "lean confidently over the fence (Steinbeck 1466)" and eventually penetrates Elisa's barrier to come "through the gate (Steinbeck 1466)." The Tinker's entrance into the gate represents Elisa's passions fully released and she is no longer completely isolated. Elisa's fence helped to divide her from the outside world full of influences and from a husband who was not completely aware of her.

Kassim, Elizabeth. Symbolism in "The Chrysanthemums". Online. Internet. 29 November 2000. Available http://wwwnhc.nhmccd.cc.tx.us/public/clh/eng/ composit/critanal/c953.html

Pittman, Wendy. Elisa's Unfulfilled Desire. 9 July 1998. Online. Internet. 29 November 2000. Available http://spectrum.troyst.edu/~rqray/english/wendy.htm

ows her concealed passions. "Her figure looked blocked and heavy in her gardening costume (Steinbeck 1463)." Elisa tries to subdue her sexual desires by hiding beneath manly clothing, tools, and even her home (Duncun 1). "She wore a man's black hat, clod-hopper shoes...[and] heavy leather gloves (Steinbeck 1463)." She carried " short and powerful scissors (Steinbeck 1463)" and her house was "hard-swept and hard-polished (Steinbeck 1463)." Although she had a manly appearance she was still doing the woman's job of tending a flower garden. All of these manly traits did not hold her back; Steinbeck still allowed her suppressed sexuality to shine through (Pittmann 1). " A figured print dress almost completely covered by a big corduroy apron with four big pockets (Steinbeck 1463)." Steinbeck, by allowing the dress to be seen, is showing the readers Elisa passion that long to be unbridled. The manly gloves that she wore to protect her hands show that she still wants to be a women yet long for the adventure a man's life contains. Clothing was not the only symbol of repress

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Approximate Word count = 1865
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)