If we look back to the beginning of the century, it is clear that marriages were often arranged or it was the man who chose his bride. As a result, men did not feel genuine love towards their wives and asked them to take care of the cooking and look after the children if they had any. John Steinbeck's short story "The Chrysanthemums" illustrates this through his character, Elisa Allen, a proud, strong woman who feels frustrated with her present life. Her frustration stems from not having a child and from her husband's failure to admire her romantically as a woman. The only outlet for her frustration is her flower garden where she cultivates beautiful chrysanthemums. Another thing that helps her for a moment is the Tinker, a man who comes and value her feminine appearance by her beautiful flowers and he also tray her at the end.
English: John Steinbeck
English: This image has been altered from its sour...
132 Central Avenue, Salinas, California, the home ...Steinbeck purpose
Steinbeck's uses the flower to symbolize his main character's thoughts and ideas in his novel. In a romantic or sexual context, a woman is often said to be as beautiful as a flower; in John Steinbeck's short story "The Chrysanthemums", Elisa Allen never receives this recognition. Elisa Allen is a lonely woman who enjoys growing and nourishing her chrysanthemums. Since her husband is always working in their farm, she never has enough attention or any kind of affection. Although, she discovers an outlet for her frustration in a flower garden where she cultivates beautiful chrysanthemums; she refugies herself in her chrysanthemum, which symbolize her spirit, in other word, herself. Steinbeck uses these elegant flowers as a symbol to represent the tender, inner-self of all women, including Elisa. Because Elisa does not feel appreciated by her husband, she takes care of her chrysanthemums, symbols of...