An Explication of John Steinbeck's The Chrysanthemums

John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" takes place in Steinbeck's home town Salinas, California. The reader meets the main character, Elisa Allen, while she is tending to her flower garden. "Elisa Allen, working in her flower garden, looked down across the yard and saw Henry, her husband, talking to two men in business suits" (Steinbeck, 203). The first impression of her tending to her flower garden gives us the impression that she is quiet (she is alone) and hard working. The second noticeable aspect of Elisa Allen is her curiosity. Elisa sees the men talking to her husband and wonders what they are talking about. However, there is more to Elisa Allen than this mere first impression. "The chrysanthemum stems seemed to small and easy for her energy" (Steinbeck, 203). Upon this further reading look you realize she is actually strong and energetic as well, or that is how she represents herself at the least. Elisa was especially good at growing chrysanthemums (hence, the title).

The story digs deeper when Henry (Elisa Allen's husband) leaves the house with his helper. Elisa continues to work on her garden when a strange wagon pulls up to her property. A big man gets out and begins to talk to Elisa, and gets to the point where he asks her repeatedly if he can fix some of her tools/appliances. The moral of this story is to show that women (Elisa Allen representing women) can be strong, but men belittle them far too often in society. "I wish women could do such things." (Steinbeck, 208). Even Elisa herself realizes this flaw in society. Keep in mind this story was published in 1938, women finally got the right to vote in 1920, only 18 years prior, so women's suffrage is a viable option for the moral of the story. Yet women were still mocked, whether they had rights or not. "I am strong? Yes, strong. What do you mean strong?" (Steinbeck, 209). This is a small portion of a conversation between Henry and Elisa a little bit before they leave for town. Henry compliments Elisa, yet Elisa takes it as a taunting gesture.

As we progress to the end of the story you can tell that Elisa wants to show she is capable of doing the same things men do. "Henry, at those prize fights, do the men hurt each other very much?" (Steinbeck, 210). This quotation simply hints at the fact that Elisa wants to show that she can commit the same actions, and enjoy the same events as Henry (who represents men in this instance). Soon after Henry notes "What's the matter, Elisa? Do you want to go? I don't think you'd like it, but I'll take you if you really want to go." (Steinbeck, 210). What Henry said added gasoline to the fire, especially the bolded area. At the end of the story Elisa " [...] turned up her collar so he could not see that she was crying weakly-like an old woman." (Steinbeck, 210). Elisa is hurt, but doesn't want to show her weakness and vulnerability, to she covers up her tears to her husband doesn't see them. Why wouldn't Elisa like to go to the match? Why don't people think she cannot perform certain tasks (like the wagon traveler)? The reason I think the story is titled "The Chrysanthemums" is to compare women and flowers, especially in this story a "weak" flower. Like the quotation "The chrysanthemum stems seemed to small and easy for her energy." (Steinbeck, 203), the chrysanthemums are weak, like Elisa feels weak against society's views on her.

Work(s) Cited
Steinbeck, John. "The Chrysanthemums". Literature: An Introduction to Fiction Poetry, and Drama. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 4^th Compact Edition.

New York: Pearson Longman, 2005. 202-210.