The Chrysanthemums

A detailed Summary of The Chrysanthemums

Analysis of "The Chrysanthemums" by John Steinbeck

The main character of John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" is a young woman Elisa Allen. Written in the 1930's, this story demonstrates women's unfulfilled needs and desires, and the shame associated with having these feelings. In "The Chrysanthemums," the struggle for equality in a male-dominated society, which ends up with woman's defeat, is portrayed through Steinbeck's character Elisa. For women, sex was meant only for procreation. It was not meant for enjoyment or satisfaction. Unable to voice their desires or act on them, women found fulfillment in other areas of their lives. Elisa finds hers in her flower garden. Elisa has literally put "herself" into these flowers. The symbolic nature of the chrysanthemums, which is revealed through Elisa's interactions with her flowers, her husband, and the salesman, represents women desires in a world dominated by men.

In order to understand Henry's and salesman's interactions with Elisa's flowers, first, a symbolic nature of the chrysanthemums has to be revealed. Steinbeck uses chrysanthemums as symbols of the inner-self of Elisa and of every woman. Initially, Elisa is shown working diligently in her flower garden. He

Marcus, Mordecai. "The Lost Dream of Sex and Childbirth in 'The Chrysanthemums.'" Modern Fiction Studies 11 (1965): 54-8.

r figure is described as "blocked and heavy" because she is wearing heavy gloves, heavy shoes, a "man's black hat," and a big apron that hides her printed dress (Steinbeck 330). Her home has the masculine qualities of being "hard-swept" and "hard-polished" (Steinbeck 330). Elisa is bored with her husband and with her life. According to Sweet, Elisa is unhappy with the traditional female role and is attempting to extend her abilities into masculine areas (Sweet 211). First, the chrysanthemums symbolize Elisa's children. She tends her garden and handles the chrysanthemums with love and care, just as she would handle her own children. Elisa is very protective of her flowers and places a wire fence around them; she makes sure "no aphids, no sow bugs or snails or cutworms" are there. "Her terrier fingers destroy such pests before they can get started". These pests represent natural harm to the flowers, and, just as any good mother, she removes them before they can harm her children. The chrysanthemums are symbolic of her children, and she is very proud of them. When Elisa's husband compliments her on her flowers, she is proud, and "on her face there is a little smugness". She is happy and pleased by her ability to nurture these beautiful flowers. Elisa's pride in her ability to grow such beautiful flowers reinforces the fact that the flowers are a replacement for her children. As the story unfolds, the chrysanthemums come to symbolize Elisa's femininity and sexuality. The portrait of Elisa caring for the flowers as though they are her children is clearly a feminine image, but her masculine image is also observed in her "h

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Approximate Word count = 1181
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English