John Steinbeck” character uses symbolism to develop his theme in the short story

John Steinbeck’s short story “The Chrysanthemums” is about a proud, strong woman named Elisa Allen who feels frustrated with her present life. Her frustration stems from not having a child and also  from her husband’s failure to admire her romantically as a woman. The only outlet for her frustration is her flower garden where she cultivates beautiful chrysanthemums. Steinbeck uses chrysanthemums as symbols of the inner-self of Elisa and of every woman.

First, the chrysanthemums symbolize Elisa’s children. She tends her garden and handles the chrysanthemums with love and care, just as she would handle her own children. Elisa is very protective of her flowers and places a wire fence around them; she makes sure “[n]o aphids, no sowbugs or snails or cutworms” are there. “Her terrier fingers [destroy] such pests before they [can] get started” (240). These pests represent natural harm to the flowers, and, just as any good mother, she removes them before they can harm her children.

The chrysanthemums are symbolic of her children, and she is very proud of them. When Elisa’s husband compliments her on her flowers, she is proud, and “on her face there [is] a little smugness”(240). She is happy and please by her ability to nurture these beautiful flowers. Elisa’s pride in her ability to grow such beautiful flowers reinforces the fact that the flowers are a replacement for her children….