Symbolism in The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck Essay -- Chrysanthem

Symbolism in The Chrysanthemums by tin keister SteinbeckA symbol is an act, person, thing, or spectacle that stands for something else, by association a norm all(prenominal)y broader idea in addition to its own literal meaning (Cassill & Bausch, 1728). nates Steinbecks The Chrysanthemums may seem as a story describing a bare(a) day with the Allen couple. It begins with enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assay Allen working in her garden and her save, Henry Allen, negotiating with devil suited business men that want to purchase steers. They seem to absorb in conversations and go about their day as they normally would do. By the time the story ends, they are on their way to dinner and a movie. At first glance, this story may seem as aught special, just a day in the demeanor of fairly able couple attempting to enjoy their marriage. However, thither is much more under the locate of what is written. The story has a relative amount of symbols which gives light on forme r(a) details of the story. It is not until after tactile propertying at deeper meanings of some of the symbols that there can be a more comprehensive reading of the tale. If unmatched takes a good look, one can notice that Henry is an poker-faced husband, and Elisa craves for more from the relationship, and her life. The lack of passion between Elisa and her husband leads her to use her flowers, the chrysanthemums, and other household tasks as an outlet for the attention that she longs for. Elisa, handle many other women, is limited by societys view on womens part in the home.A more clear example of how Elisa feels can be better explained by Steinbecks description of the where Elisa and Henry live. The naughty gray-flannel fog of winter closed off the Salinas Valley from the sky and from all the rest of the world. On e... ...but romantic. That simple gesture is enough to sustain Elisa for the present time. She probably also realizes that the wine is the most she will f ormulate out of Henry for a long time.All of this insight and compendium of the meaning behind Elisas chrysanthemums is what opens up the undisclosed doors of this story. If one did not look further into the story, it would seem as if the author was providing a bunch of supererogatory pieces of information about a specific day in the life of Elisa Allen. The chrysanthemums, being the key to the story, give a more in-depth consciousness of this womans life and her struggles that would otherwise not be acknowledged.Works CitedSteinbeck, John. ?The Chrysanthemums.? Literature An entering to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs. 2nd Compact ed. New Jersey apprentice Hall, 2003. 359-366