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'Symbolism In John Steinbeck's Chrysanthemums'

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John Steinbeck’s short story, “Chrysanthemums”, was written in 1938. The story tells of a woman’s struggle to find self respect and worth from her male counterpart within a very patriarchal society. Throughout the story symbols are constantly used and Steinbeck specifically chooses symbolism in order to express the inequality of women during that time.

The use of chrysanthemums in Steinbeck’s story is to symbolize Elisa and her self worth. Like Elisa the chrysanthemums are confined to a restricted area where they are not for sale so others may enjoy its beauty. The chrysanthemums stay in the garden just for Elisa’s enjoyment. Elisa is seen the same way by being confined to her life on the farm and in her marriage, where she is
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The Chrysanthemums Literary Analysis One of the themes of “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck is gender inequality. In this short story, the main character Elisa Allen was a strong, smart woman who was stuck being a common housewife. Elisa wishes she could go out and be like the tinker, sleeping under the stars and adventuring every day of her life. Elisa’s husband owns a ranch of some sorts, and when he tells Elisa of the business deal he’d just made he gave her an unspecific explanation, or a dumbed down one so he doesn’t “confuse her”.

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