Symbolism In The Chrysanthemums By John Steinbeck

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“The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck is a short story about Elisa Allen and her passionate love for growing her chrysanthemums. This short story, written in 1938 uses symbolism to describe the inequality of women. John Steinbeck uses Elisas wardrobe to describe the prejudice to women. During the beginning of the story, Elisa is wearing bulky clothing, gloves, and a hat. This symbolizes inequality because the lifeless attire symbolizes that Elisa is muted from the excitement and attention she wants to have. When the tinker shows up, he brings the attention that Elisa has been looking for. The tinker shows an interest in Elisa and the chrysanthemums. This attention brings joy to Elisa which causes her to feel better about herself. This feeling results in the action of her takes off her gloves, her bulky shoes, and …show more content…
When her husband, Henry Allen, discusses the option of going out. Elisa puts on more elegant clothing and makeup, symbolizing a shift in Elisa’s life because she is not expressing her dull life through boring clothes, rather she is expressing her new feelings through a more elegant type of attire. Another thing that shows a change in Elisa is when her husband honks the car her signalling he is ready to leave, but she waits inside until he hears him turn off the car. This shows that Elisa feels that she an influence for once, but when Elisa and Henry are driving to town, she notices her flowers on the side of the road, and Elisa becomes heartbroken because she realizes that
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