Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities in literature. In “The Chrysanthemums,” John Steinbeck uses symbolism in many aspects of the story. As the reader reads, they began to realize and connect the symbols being used throughout the story. Steinbeck develops “The Chrysanthemums” by using symbols with underlying meanings and different representations. Even though the four major symbols could mean many different things, they all represent the main character of Elisa in some way and through the use of these symbols Steinbeck creates a common theme of the inequality of the genders throughout the story. In “The Chrysanthemums” there are four major symbols. Steinbeck uses all of these symbols to create and build Elisa’s character throughout the story. The first symbol that is introduced is the description of the Salinas Valley, which is before the main character Elisa is introduced. After Steinbeck introduces Elisa, the next symbol is introduced, which is the …show more content…
chrysanthemums.
In the text, when Henry says, “You’ve got a gift with things. Some of those yellow chrysanthemums you had this year were ten inches across,” the reader can really tell how much Elisa cares about her flowers (1238). The third symbol introduced is the dogs when the stranger, who is a tinker, turned down the farm road leading to her house. The last major symbol introduced in this story is the flower pots. The first place flower pots are mentioned in the story is when Elisa reads, “Pots, pans, knives, scisors, lawn mores, Fixed,” on the tinker’s wagon (1239). “The Chrysanthemums” has four major symbols that could have a variety of different meanings. As the reader reads the story, they begin to figure out and connect all four symbols with what they represent. All four major symbols in “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck represent the main character of Elisa in some way. The first
two symbols introduced represent Elisa’s life. The Salinas Valley represents Elisa’s emotional life. From the description of the Salinas Valley, before the Elisa is introduced to the reader, one begins to feel how sad, yet strong she is going to be. When the narrator says, “On the foothill ranches across the Salinas River, the yellow stubble fields seemed to be bathed in pale cold sunshine, but there was no sunshine in the valley now in December,” the reader can make associations between Elisa being the Salinas Valley and everybody around her being the ranches across the river (1237). After, realizing this implication, the reader begins to realize that Elisa herself is not happy, yet, everyone around her seems to be. However, one can also realize how strong Elisa is as well when the Valley’s weather is described as cold, but there are signs of fall coming. The most major symbol in the whole story is the chrysanthemums. These beautiful flowers represent Elisa as a person. Elisa has a “face [that] was lean and strong and her eyes [are] as clear as water,” so of course, she is beautiful, just like her flowers, but as a woman in the time the story was wrote, Elisa could not do tasks that would make her independent, such as driving, and she relies on her husband. Just like Elisa, the chrysanthemums rely on someone to take care of them (1238). Since Elisa puts her all into the chrysanthemums, when she offers some flowers to the tinker she is offering herself to him as well. When the tinker throws out the flowers at the end of the story, she feels as if he is throwing her out as well. The Salinas Valley and the chrysanthemums represent Elisa’s life and helps the reader build her character. The last two symbols introduced represent Elisa in a different way. While the first two symbols that were introduced in the story represented Elisa’s life, the second two symbols introduced represent the interaction between Elisa and the tinker. The dogs are introduced when the tinker arrives at Elisa’s farm, her two dogs run up to the tinker’s dog to make sure that there is no threat to their owner “now the newcomer dog, feeling out-numbered, lowered his tail and retired under the wagon with raised hackles and bared teeth,” and Elisa’s dogs did not harm the dog even though it was still showing signs of aggression (1239). This interaction between the dogs is similar to the interaction between Elisa and the tinker. Elisa initially starts off the interaction as strong and smart. She is not giving into the tinker trying to sell her. Just like her dogs initially were strong and smart compared to the tinker’s dog. However, just like her dogs let their guards down when the tinker’s dog receded to the wagon, Elisa let her guard down when the tinker brings up the chrysanthemums and got conned into paying him and giving him her precious flowers. The flower pots are another representation of their relationship. Since, the chrysanthemums represent Elisa as a person, the flower pots represent her life. The tinker is able to fix pots, this suggests that he is able to fix her life. At the end of their interaction, Elisa says, “[…] I can beat the dents out of little pots. I could show you what a woman might do,” which is Elisa realizing she can fix her own life (1242). When the tinker dumps her flowers on the side of the road and keeps the flower pots, this represents how easy it was for him use Elisa. All four of the major symbols represent Elisa in some way, the Salinas Valley and the chrysanthemums represent Elisa as a person and the dogs and the flowers pots represent Elisa’s relationship with the tinker. All of these symbols develop a common theme. All of the symbols in “The Chrysanthemums” develop a theme of the inequality of gender in the society. The Salinas Valley and the chrysanthemums represent how a woman is trapped and has to dependent on a man for happiness, wealth, and just to survive in general. The dogs and the flower pots represent how easily a man is able to use and abuse a woman’s love for his own good. Both of the men in the story do not realize how smart Elisa is. Henry, Elisa’s husband, takes care of the whole business aspect of their farm without consulting his wife at all. Elisa is supposed to be treated as an equal partner instead she is stuck watching everything happen. Likewise, the tinker does not treat Elisa equal. The tinker says, “it ain’t the right kind of a life for a woman,” with no explanation on why he felt that way (1242). This shows that the tinker just assumes that a woman can not do his job simply because she is a woman. Even though Elisa is depicted as a strong woman who is trapped and sad because wants to be independent and equal. The only way she felt that she was going to get her independence and be able to “bloom” was through the chrysanthemums, this is why when she figured the flowers were thrown to the side of the road, “she turned up her coat collar so [nobody could see] that she was crying weakly—like an old woman,” she realized that she was used and she would never get to reach her full potential (1244). John Steinbeck uses the two men in this story to represent society and Elisa to represent woman to show that society ignores a woman’s full potential. In “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck, symbolism is used in many aspects of the story. The four majors symbols used is the Salinas Valley, chrysanthemums, dogs, and flower pots. While all four of these symbols have many possible meanings, they all represent Elisa in some way. Through these symbols, Steinbeck develops the theme of the inequality of the genders. All of the symbols connect and develop the story, without understanding the symbolism in this story, a reader may not understand what the story was about. “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck is a true example of the definition of symbolism.
In this short the Chrysanthemums, written by John stein beck. The author tells a character who is in need of love. Stein back reflects the charazteratiom of Elisa in the story because he shows us how Elisa character changes threw out the story. The traits of Elisa’s show us that Elisa is strong and want affection and resorts to the chrysanthemums as a way to show herself.
Symbolism is a major literary device that helps people see a book through symbols that often have a deeper meaning. A symbol is used to explain something in a different way, using images, objects, etc. instead of just saying it in words. As you search for a deeper meaning in a work of art or literature it can help you understand the authors intentions and the deeper significance of a work. In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, symbols help reinforce the major themes of the book.
The main character in John Steinback’s short story: The Chrysanthemums, is a married woman named Elisa Allen. She is a hardworking diligent young woman. In the opening chapters of The Chrysanthemums, Elisa is seen heartily in a great degree tendering to her gentle flowers. Powerful she is – gentle and conservative with her strength. She knows her weakness. Like the gentle calm flow of water embedding itself into layers of strata – which forms the highest peaks and grandest canyons.
All of these symbols show how love can occur in many people and in the most random of places. Lily often feels guilty for accidentally killing her mom when she was little, but with Lily and Rosaleen ran away to Tiburon to find a new loving family, the Boatwrights. Lily is able to forgive herself and start a new life that she is able to disregard her past. Lily has finally found a family that cares about her and won’t let anyone hurt her
The two short stories have different characters, plot and setting and yet they have a common ground in which human beings are deeply involved. In short, the setting of each work powerfully suggests a rather calm, dull and peaceful mood at a superficial level; however, the main characters are struggling from the uncontrollable passions and exploding desire at heart. First of all, in "The Chrysanthemums" the Salinas Valley is depicted as somewhat dull, like "a closed pot." In addition, its geographical setting represents an isolated atmosphere, and, furthermore, Elisa's actions of handling chrysanthemums can be translated into a static, inactive one. However, when it comes to her concealed passion, the whole picture in this piece can be interpreted in a different way. In fact, Elisa is portrayed as "over-eager, over-powerful" in a sharp contrast to the unanimated space in which she lives. On top of that, Elisa expresses her volition to explore uncharted worlds like the peddler who happens to visit her farm house. Also, it must be noted that, even though Elisa does not reveal her desire openly largely due to the authoritative patriarchal system, Elisa's interior motive is directed toward the violent, bloody prizefights. In other words, the imbalance between the relatively restricted setting and Elisa's vaulting desire to wander into the unknown territory is chiefly designed to strengthen the overall imagery of Elisa, whose drive to experience the violent outer world. At the same time, it can be inferred that appearance (setting) and reality (Elisa's human nature) are hard to understand.
Within Steinbeck's story, "Chrysanthemums," the main character, Elisa Allen, is confronted with many instances of conflict. Steinbeck uses chrysanthemums to symbolize this conflict and Elisa's self-worth. By examining these points of conflict and the symbolism presented by the chrysanthemums, the meaning of the story can be better determined.
In John Steinbeck’s The Chrysanthemums, the reader is introduced to the seemingly timid and shy Elisa Allen. Elisa is routinely planting her yearly sets of Chrysanthemums, which appear to be the sole receptor of her caring and gentle touch, but all the while it is evident that “the chrysanthemum stems seemed too small and easy for her energy.” Her hidden eagerness seems not only out of place, but out of touch with her dry and wilted surroundings, of which her husband, Henry, abruptly interrupts her steady pace. Inquiring of dinner plans, he is quickly shuttered out, so that Elisa can continue her work in the fenced in flower bed. This seems to be the only place on the ranch that belongs to her, and thus devoting the entirety of her time, and consideration, towards this lonely sandy square.
John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" shows the true feelings of the main character, Elisa Allen, through the use of setting and her interactions with other characters in the story. By way of vivid descriptions, Elisa's feelings of dissatisfaction over the lack of excitement in her life are portrayed. Her role as a mere housewife and then the subsequent change to feelings of a self-assured woman are clearly seen. These inner feelings are most apparent with the portrayal of Elisa working in the garden with the chrysanthemums, the conversation she has with the man passing through, and finally, when she and her husband are going out to dinner.
In John Steinbeck's short story," The Chrysanthemums," there is a strong underlining of betrayal. We can see betrayal in three forms throughout the story. First we see Elisa being betrayed by the salesman who plays on her emotions by giving her a sales pitch only to get some work out of her. Then, in result to confiding in the salesman Elisa betrays her husband by opening herself up, and confiding to a complete stranger things which she couldn't reveal to her own husband. Finally, we see Elisa betraying herself by not allowing herself to fully express her true emotions, and by being too afraid to step out of societies norms for woman during this time.
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.
Feminism in John Steinbeck’s The Chrysanthemums. At first glance, John Steinbeck’s "The Chrysanthemums" seems to be a story about a woman whose niche is in the garden. Upon deeper inspection, the story has strong notes of feminism in the central character, Elisa Allen. Elisa’s actions and feelings reflect her struggle as a woman trying and failing to emasculate herself in a male-dominated society.
... real love, she may be able to find fulfillment in her flowers more than she ever has. They can be released into the male world and survive, beautiful and strong, though fragile, just as she has. The chrysanthemums are not Elisa's frustration, they are her hope in a world she sees without hope. Therefore, when the tinker simply drops the flowers on the side of the road, the symbolic weight of the chrysanthemums must be considered. Higdon states that "the crucial question remains whether or not Elisa has been destroyed" (Higdon, 668). The reader can see how the flowers represent mostly a positive symbol of growth and life. Elisa may not have anywhere to turn for real understanding, since men are not able to explore her inner-qualities, but it is better that she grows flowers than shutting off her own emotions and feelings and using others like the men around her.
In the real world, different symbols are used to help people understand things, and to add different effects onto people’s lives. For example a pendent a women or man wears from the army helps someone understand what they’ve been through and helps portray them as a strong individual. In novels which may have complex story lines like The Handmaids tale it is important that these novels have some symbolism to help the reader decode what some details in the novel represent, helping them understand the plot more in-depth. Through the novel of the Handmaid Tale by Margaret Atwood, symbolism is present and that helps to enhance the story line, as well as contribute an important factor in which is helping the reader understand
Symbolism is often used within literature to bring attention to the overall themes and ideas of a story. In the novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses Pearl as a symbol of Hester’s sin, conscience, and grace to emphasize the theme that there is no escape from sin, and that even though it may affect you, learning from your mistakes can lead to a bright future.
...hich was the symbol of her prettiness” (Steinbeck 94). Although when Elisa and Henry are on their way to go to the town, Elisa sees the chrysanthemums that the tinkerer had thrown out. At this moment, Elisa suddenly realizes that she will never be anything more than what she was before, a woman that is worthless to society.