John Steinbeck shows us that women often struggle to successfully express oneself, and fail, on the part of others to fulfill one 's emotional needs. The narrator shares, “The chrysanthemum stems seemed too small and easy for her energy” (Steinbeck 439). Even though her job maintaining the chrysanthemums might seem boring and unsatisfying she still finds passion in growing them. The chrysanthemums in this quote symbolize Elisa’s life; Elisa can relate to the chrysanthemums because she is stuck at home just like the chrysanthemums are stuck in the ground. In addition, In the rising action, Elisa says to the tinker, “It must be very nice. I wish women could do such things” (Steinbeck 445). Elisa finds the tinker attractive and is jealous of his