The Chrysanthemums, by John Steinbeck
by Barry Wright
Essay: The Chrysanthemums, by John Steinbeck
Pages: 10
Rating: 3 stars
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In the short story “The Chrysanthemums” John Steinbeck uses symbolism to reflect the characteristics of his main
character Elisa Allen. Elisa, a married woman uncovers her deeply smothered femininity in an inconspicuous sense.
Her life in the valley had become limited to housewife duties and the only sustenance that seemed to exist could
merely be found in her chrysanthemum garden. Not until she becomes encountered with a remote tinker-man out
and about seeking for work, does she begin to reach many of the internal emotions that had long inhibited her
femininity. The tinker subtlety engages an interest in Elisa’s chrysanthemum garden that encourages Elisa to react
radically. When Elisa realizes that there are other ways to live she attempts to lift the lid off of the Salinas Valley,
but unfortunately the tinker’s insincere actions resort Elisa back to her old self and leaves Elisa without any
optimism for her hollow breakthrough. Steinbeck’s somber details of the setting, strong description of the
chrysanthemums and meaningful illustration of the red flower-pot reveal the distant, natural, ambitions Elisa Allen
desired to attain.
The Salinas Valley is symbolic to Elisa’s inner feelings. The farm responsibilities Elisa shared with her husband
Henry encouraged “cold and tender” thoughts that often left Elisa feeling “closed off from the rest of the world”
(paragraph 1). Her consistent lonely and empty days began to “fog” the belief of any better days to come. The
[quiet of waiting] was yearning for any “sharp and positive” (paragraph 2) notion that had yet to be nurtured. But
until Elisa was given any chance to set free of such desires she had to remain forcibly content inside of her
chrysanthemum garden.
The chrysanthemu...
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