How Symbolism Manifests Itself in Steinbeck’s Story The Chrysanthemums

Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums” is a story that clearly captures the theme of isolation. From the beginning of the story until its ending, Elisa, the main protagonist, is alone emotionally, sexually, as well as physically. Clearly, one cannot help sympathising with her as her loneliness leads to her dissatisfaction with her life. Reading the story, one wonders at Steinbeck’s ability to delve into the complexities of Elisa’s consciousness as every detail told from Elisa’s point of view helps us engage with her as we gain an understanding of the circumstances of her life. What makes the story interesting and also makes the story clear is Steinbeck’s use of symbolism. The chrysanthemums symbolises Elisa as well as every woman and Elisa’s children, while the close parallels between her and the dogs are symbolic of her femininity and sexuality.

Steinbeck uses the chrysanthemums as a symbol of Elisa as well as of every woman going through the same situation as her. This is the first major symbol of the short story and they clearly are a representation of Elisa. Just like Elisa, the Chrysanthemums are confined to a narrow environment, the garden with no chance of escape, “There was a little square sandy bed kept for rooting the chrysanthemums”. Women like Elisa were confined to their house mostly doing house chores while the men would go wherever and whenever they wanted. Additionally, the chrysanthemums are beautiful, decorative flowers but serve no useful purpose besides their aesthetic function. In the same way, as a woman, Elisa is limited in the tasks she can do and in the patriarchal society where the story is set, she cannot be allowed to be independent or even take care of herself.

The chrysanthemums are also symbolic of Elisa’s children. She tends to her garden and handles the chrysanthemums with the most attention love and affection just like how she would do to her own children. She is very protective of the flowers as seen by how she places a wire fence around them and takes care that no pests destroys them, “No aphids were there, no sowbugs or snails or cutworms. Her terrier fingers destroyed such pests before they could get started”. The pests would naturally harm the flowers and being a good mother, she removes them before her ‘children’ would come to harm. A mother is always proud of her children, and the chrysanthemums are symbolic of her children as she is very proud of these flowers. When her husband compliments her on how she takes care of her flowers, she is proud and cannot resist showing a little smugness on her face. She is content with her ability to care for the flowers. With her bring able to grow such beautiful flowers magnifies the fact that these flowers are a replacement for the children she does not have.

The close parallels between Elisa and the dogs are symbolic of her femininity and sexuality. Just as Elisa’s dogs appear stronger than the tinker’s dogs, so is Elisa smarter, wittier and more robust than the tinker. She shows her wit during her talk with the tinker and as she later shows, she is also capable of doing any repair work as him, “I haven’t anything for you to do”. This statement clearly reveals that she had her pots, scissors, and all such things in perfect condition such that she did not need anyone else to do such work for her. However, despite her showing superior wit and skill, she gives in to the tinker’s charm and persistence and finally gives him a job she could have done by herself. The question of Elisa’s sexuality is obviously in question in her interaction with the tinker and she challenges this. “Elisa…moves out of her accustomed role to challenge Henry and the tinker…their occupations and sexuality”.

In conclusion, Steinbeck uses symbolism in his story to highlight the main protagonist’s circumstances. It is clear that Elisa is lonely, with no children and living in a patriarchal society and Steinbeck highlights this fact through his use of symbolism. The chrysanthemums symbolises Elisa as well as every woman and Elisa’s children, while the close parallels between her and the dogs are symbolic of her femininity and sexuality.