Essay about The Chrysanthemums

Submitted By Redjakk1

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In the short story, "The Chrysanthemums", author John Steinbeck uses a number of different elements in his story to improve it overall and to strike an emotional chord with the readers. Through an analysis of the characters, setting and symbolism in "The Chrysanthemums", it will become evident how Steinbeck developed these elements in his story and how they strengthen it as a whole.

In "The Chrysanthemums", the development of Steinbeck's characters play a large role in his story. For the most part, the protagonist Elisa faces a series of changes throughout the story. She is a woman with a very fragmented identity, making it hard for her to fulfill her true self. She is accustomed to wearing "manly" clothing and she lives with a husband who she cannot identify with. For example, when Elisa hears her husband's voice, she "straightened her back and pulled on the gardening gloves again" (pg. 2). This shows how her husband's presence changes her to become more masculine. The masculinity she tries to personify can be a sign of Elisa's strength. Additionally, when she talks to her husband, her words seem to carry a smugness, almost as if she were putting her husband down. "'Good,' she said, "Good for you'" (pg. 2). It is evident in the beginning of the story that Elisa may be trying to emulate the behavior of a man to prove herself to her husband. She is even described as "handsome" (pg. 1). Despite this, she is quite comfortable with her physicality and her actions however unsatisfied with her life. Elisa has an undying longing to truly live free but she is reluctant to pursue this life and represses herself when she feels her urges. Her only consolation is her garden of flowers, which she protects as if they were her children. As the story progresses, Elisa becomes more open and shares a connection with a peddler she meets. She is very kind to the man and shares her chrysanthemums with him "I can put some in damp sand, and you can carry them right along with you" (pg.

Chrysanthemum Theory

On average, one out of every four students gets bullied each year. That’s why author Kevin Henkes created the book Chrysanthemum, and to give an important message to readers to be friendly to everyone and respect your peers. Henkes is known for illustrating children’s picture books, and the main characters are generally mice. In his book Chrysanthemum, Henkes states examples of psychoanalytic theory to give the reader an understanding of the main character’s ego, superego, and id to explain what…

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The Chrysanthemums Essays

have had the opportunity to read a number of short stories that all had symbolism. One story that stuck out to me was John Steinbeck’s The Chrysanthemums, which was written in 1937 during the great depression. In this short story the title, The Chrysanthemums was a very clear symbol throughout the story. Elisa Allen is the main character in The Chrysanthemums. Elisa reminds me of the type of women who takes care of a majority of the household chores- including the garden. She is a simple woman but…

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In the story “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck, Elisa is bound from expressing who she is, she is described as wearing men’s clothing which is hiding her printed dress. Her feminine aspects are hidden behind her clothing. Elisa’s husband comments on her chrysanthemums she was planting saying how they are strong flowers which pleases Elisa. She has a connection to her chrysanthemums as she plants and nurtures them as she would her own kids though her and Henry have none. Later on when Elisa is…

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impacted by gender-specific expectations, but so are characters in literary pieces that often times portray our own suppressions in life. As society has changed over the years, so have the standards that both sexes must uphold. John Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums” and Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” share a similar theme. In both stories the main characters, Elisa and Louise, endure common subjugations from society and from those around them. The difference in…

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