the chrysanthemums

Symbolism is often times a large and important of a story. There is a lot of symbolism in John Steinbeck’s story The Chrysanthemums. A large amount of the symbolism in the story is mostly centered on the main character, Elisa, and those surrounding her. One the first example of symbolism in the story is the author’s description of the setting of Salinas Valley. Steinbeck described the valley as surrounded on all sides by mountains with a thick heavy fog similar to a closed pot. This is supposed to symbolize how Elisa feels trapped in the valley and a loveless, infertile marriage. The way Elisa dresses up in large, heavy clothing in the beginning of the story represents how very guarded is about her own feelings. The fence that surrounds her garden to keep out cattle and other animals is also a representation the wall that she put between herself and others. She is even guarded in regards to her husband as he was unable to mush of a reaction from her. She is more willing to open up to a complete stranger then her own husband which speaks badly of their relationship. When she takes off her gloves while talking to the salesman about her chrysanthemums, it is a sign of her letting her guard down. The salesman uses the flowers as a way to get her to drop her guard so that he can make some money. Her favorite flowers the chrysanthemums and her love for them are also a symbol. They represent children she wished she had but is incapable of bearing any or having any with her husband. In other words, she compensates her lack of children by taking care of these flowers. When asked by the salesman about her chrysanthemums her talks about them as if she were praising children. She even defends them as if they were her kids when the salesman comments on their smell. When Elisa is describing to the salesman how to take care of the chrysanthemums, she describes it as if it were love making.