“The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck is a symbol-rich story that initially appears as a harmless narrative revolving around a woman and her garden, but upon closer inspection, reveals itself as a portrayal of a woman’s ambitions and frustrations in life. Steinbeck effectively employs various examples to depict the thoughts and ideas of the protagonist, Elisa, using flowers as symbols. Elisa Allen is an isolated woman who finds solace in cultivating her beloved chrysanthemums. Due to her husband Henry’s constant involvement with the farm’s cattle, Elisa never receives the attention or affection she craves.
Elisa’s neglect from her husband causes her to find solace in her chrysanthemums, of which she holds great pride. At the beginning of the story, Steinbeck subtly implies through symbolic phrases that the chrysanthemums represent an extension of Elisa’s identity. When her husband stifles her feminine side, the chrysanthemums become a means for Elisa to express herself. She tends to them with an almost maternal care, treating them as if they were part of her own being. The presence of the flowers mirrors her own existence. Steinbeck describes Elisa’s meticulous care for the chrysanthemums, detailing how she “turned the soil over and over, and smoothed it and patted it firm.”
Elisa is unable to have children, which is not her choice. Her care for her flowers reflects how she would care for her own kids. The chrysanthemums serve as a substitute for the kids she doesn’t have and fill the void of her womanhood. Elisa’s desire to cultivate and nurture the flowers is both inspiring and unsettling, as her husband’s lack of comprehension contributes greatly to her unstable demeanor. His comment illustrates his disinterest in both Elisa’s chrysanthemums and herself.
This passage highlights Elisa’s sense of underappreciation by her husband, leading her to find solace in caring for her chrysanthemums, which serve as a representation of her true beauty. Despite her husband’s practical mindset as a farmer, it is understandable that he may not fully value Elisa’s emotional needs as a woman. However, neglecting these needs leaves Elisa feeling spiritually drained, making her flowers all the more important. Additionally, Elisa’s husband fails to acknowledge her as a sexual being, causing further harm to her spirit. He interprets her decision to dress up at the end of the day as an affront to his masculinity.
Elisa’s garden acts as a protective shield, symbolizing her longing for security. She sees her husband’s indifference towards her chrysanthemums as a sign of his disinterest in her. Both the flowers and Elisa herself hold multiple interpretations throughout the story. As Elisa’s husband departs with a cattle buyer, a shabby man in a rundown wagon approaches her. Despite his unimpressive looks, Elisa is captivated by him because he displays genuine interest in her chrysanthemums and employs this to convince her to assist him in finding something to repair.
When Elisa first talks to the salesman, it becomes clear that she is not interested in him. While she is willing to help him with directions, she gets defensive when he offers to sharpen her scissors or fix her pots. This initial interaction is important because it sets the stage for a significant change in Elisa’s attitude later on. As Leroy Thomas points out, it is worth noting that the tinker’s encounter exposes Elisa as a sexually frustrated woman who finds emotional fulfillment by caring for chrysanthemums. As their conversation continues, the salesman starts asking about her flowers.
When Elisa experiences this, “her eyes become alert and eager.” This reaction is similar to that of a sexually aroused woman. When Elisa removes her hat, it holds significance in two ways. Firstly, for a woman as proper as Elisa, taking off her hat and shaking out her hair is equivalent to other women undressing. This act symbolizes comfort and seduction on Elisa’s part. Additionally, it represents her opening up her soul to the man as they discuss the flowers. Once again, the connection lies in his interest in her flowers, which translates to an interest in her true self.
The man asks if the flower is a long-stemmed one that resembles a quick puff of colored smoke. Elisa feels appreciated and attractive to this stranger due to his comment. His compliment about her flowers compels her to let him fix her pots. Elisa retrieves a bright red flower pot, which is significant as red symbolizes power and passion. At this juncture, Elisa begins to recognize her own power.
She realizes that she can nurture life in her flowers, even if she lacks power in other areas of her life. The encounter with the man is compared to a sexual experience, making the red flower pot representative of their intense passion. Additionally, the pot symbolizes her own self and her emotions. As Elisa digs up the flowers to transfer them into the pot, Steinbeck observes that “The gloves were forgotten now.” This moment in the story marks the peak of her connection with the salesman.
Digging in the dirt is a raw and freeing experience for Elisa. Initially, she was sexually frustrated, as indicated in the beginning of the story when she wore gloves to cover her hands. However, now she feels liberated. After Elisa explains how to care for delicate flowers, she stands up straight with a sense of shame on her face. This shame stems from the tinker mentioning, for the second time, his lack of money for food. The first time he mentioned it was before he entered her yard, back when she still had no interest in him.
Despite feeling ashamed for receiving pleasure without giving anything in return, she goes into the shed and asks the stranger to fix two pots, paying him for the service. It is mentioned that she is actually capable of fixing the pots herself, but she wanted to assist him. By engaging with him, she had given a part of herself in exchange for his attention. After he leaves, she feels confident in her femininity and decides to give herself a makeover. She slowly dresses herself in her newest underclothing, nicest stockings, and a dress that represents her beauty. During this transformation, she experiences a revelation of thoughts, sparked by the stranger’s interest in her chrysanthemums. This newfound confidence allows her to grow and bloom like the flowers. When her husband returns and sees her changed appearance, he is startled and describes her as “nice…different, strong and happy.” His reaction upsets her deeply as she has just been denied her sensuality not only by the tinker but also by her own husband, who should appreciate and acknowledge her sexuality.Elisa is clearly taking a defensive stance and questioning why her appearance is only described as “nice.” In the final significant scene, she discovers her beloved chrysanthemum on the ground, but it is no longer accompanied by its pot.
The interaction between the man and Elisa can be explained by stating that she was used. In Thomas’ words, “Like many women, she realizes her partner in coition wanted only her body symbolized by the pot; thus, the product of their ‘love’ is merely cast aside.” Elisa finds this very disheartening and avoids looking at the pot and carriage. She brings up the fights once again and suggests going to them with her husband. Elisa is seeking solace in the intensity of the fighters’ blood and sweat to alleviate her sadness.
Henry, however, finds it strange while Elisa is content with suggesting wine during dinner in hopes that it will ease her emotional anguish. She was deceived by someone who feigned interest in her, and this theme of deception is symbolized by her flower, which is mentioned throughout the narrative. The story concludes with the line “She turned up her coat collar so he could not see that she was crying weakly – like an old woman,” revealing that she has lost her sense of confidence and self-worth and is unable to hold herself high. Elisa endures a life that should never be experienced by anyone.
Elisa’s life is defined by emptiness, solitude, and intense inner turmoil, leading her into an endless nightmare. She has the power to shape her life as she desires but the flowers that bring her stability also harm her. When people become too attached to something, they risk utter devastation. Elisa cannot blame anyone else for her unhappiness; neither her husband nor the salesman are responsible. Elisa should focus her love and self-worth solely on herself.
The story “The Chrysanthemums” is deeply symbolic, as the flowers serve to symbolize Elisa’s womanhood and self-identity. This association with her flowers ultimately leads to her downfall. Despite its profundity, the narrative evokes empathy for Elisa and a yearning for her future happiness. The intermittent use of symbols, like the flower, adds complexity to the final sentence and encourages readers to delve deeper into contemplation. As a result, these symbols play a vital role in crafting an introspective storyline that captivates the reader’s imagination.
