"The Chrysanthemums"

Symbolism references to the objects, events or relationships in ones' life. In "The Chrysanthemums" one of the main symbols is the title of the story itself. Chrysanthemums, a beautiful and vibrant flower I believe is Elisa's pride and joy. When her husband Henry states, "I wish you'd work out in the orchard and raise some apples that big", (Steinbeck, p. 633) seems to show his disinterest in her flowers and a sense of mistreatment. "The Chrysanthemums" resemble who she really is, a beautiful and strong-willed woman. Another symbol might be her garden, in the sense that she seems to be in there alot, it is almost like a hiding place for her. A place she feels she belongs, where she may not feel that way anywhere else. This old man comes along and pretends to have an interest in the flowers and Elisa loves the idea of a man showing some interest in her work. In return she gives him a pot of Chrysanthemums as he is about to leave. Later as Henry and Elisa were riding to town to eat she saw the flowers on the gravel road, as if that old man had just dumped them out. I would refer to the flowers on the road as a sense of being used and she felt neglected. " She turned up her coat collar so he could not see that was crying weakly---like an old woman." (Steinbeck, p. 639) is a prime example of how she felt she had lost all womanhood and confidence from that incident. "The Chrysanthemums" seems to be a reflection of women who live in confinement and under their husbands hopes.