“Symbolism found in John Steinbeck’s literary works.”

The Chrysanthemums

John Steinbeck’s work “The Chrysanthemums” brings symbolism into play to represent Elisa Allen’s frustrations and hidden passions. Elisa’s failing detached marriage is represented through two symbols; the Chrysanthemums and fences. He draws pity from the reader for Elisa Allen who desperately wishes to experience the passions of a fulfilling marriage and the stimulation of a man’s life. He also creates a sexually repressed and discouraged Elisa Allen who is isolated from society however still retaining their values and is also trapped in a fruitless marriage.

Steinbeck has placed on Elisa all of the abilities of a man, and described her animalistic nature in the same way he describes his other male main characters, such as Kino, from “The Pearl.” Throughout Steinbeck’s stories strong male characters are known to snarl, or growl, or act in other animal like ways, but in “The Chrysanthemums” this role is reversed, and the female character, Elisa, is given these qualities. Aside from the style juxtaposition, Steinbeck liberates Elisa of children, another stereotypical female constraint, and describes her strength, her affinity with plants and the land, and the stoic manner that she presents herself. By giving her so many masculine features, but keeping the character as a woman, Steinbeck is making a universal claim that women are equal to men, by making Elisa relatable to male readers.

Reading John Steinbeck’s work was a great experience. This story has been regarded as one of Steinbeck’s finest pieces of fiction. Critics are divided, for example, over whether Elisa is sympathetic or unsympathetic, powerful or powerless. Few modern short stories have built up such a body of criticisms as “The Chrysanthemums”, as readers have tried to establish Elisa’s reasons for her dissatisfaction with married life.

As to conclude, male went out to work to earn living, they are the breadwinner for a family in the past, but now it has totally changed. Women also play an important role in a family. Steinbeck is making a feministic appeal for woman’s equality by highlighting Elisa's strengths, her power, and her abilities, is making it clear than women do have more to offer than being trapped in their homes. Henry himself says, even if he may only be joking, that Elisa would be helpful working on the ranch based on her talent at growing large and healthy chrysanthemums.