The Use of Symbols to Express a Theme
analytical Essay
927 words
The Use of Symbols to Express a Theme John Steinbeck, in “The Chrysanthemums” expresses the theme through the use of symbols. The events in “The Chrysanthemums” take place in the Salinas Valley and focuses on Elisa Allen, her loneliness, and her attempt to communicate with others. In this story, Steinbeck uses various symbols to express the theme, which states that true communication must flow in both directions. The most important symbol in the story, the chrysanthemum, strongly expresses the theme as it represents the story as a whole. Additionally, the specific characteristics of the flower themselves symbolize different events in the story. In this story, Steinbeck relates the characteristics of the chrysanthemum to various events in the story. The chrysanthemum itself symbolizes Elisa. She lives on her husband’s farm in the Salinas Valley, which is “…closed off…from all the rest of the world”. In addition to the Salinas Valley being separated from the rest of the world, the only people on the farm are Elisa, her husband, Henry Allen, and a few workers. In the earlier part of the story, we see Elisa working in her garden and discover some of her characteristics that are later relevant. However, Steinbeck describes Elisa in an unorthodox manner. Instead of using female characteristics to describe her, he uses male characteristics. He describes her as having “a lean strong face… [and]…a man’s black hat pulled down over her eyes…”. These features given to Elisa usually relate to those of men, and Steinbeck does not stop there. He continues to describe the way she works, using generally masculine adjectives. He states that while she works, “her face is eager and mature and handsome [and] even her work with the scissors is ov... ... middle of paper ... ... to feel anger towards males in general, as she realizes that all men are the same. This section of the story emphasizes that true communication must flow in both directions. The chrysanthemums, the most important symbol in the entire book, strongly express the theme that for communication to remain true, it must flow in both directions. Throughout the story, we see the importance of the chrysanthemums. They symbolize Elisa and her desire to truly connect with someone. We also see, through symbolism, that if true and intimate communication is not reciprocated, the object doing all the giving will eventually destruct, literally and figuratively. Throughout “The Chrysanthemums”, Steinbeck uses various symbols to express a major theme, i.e., true communication, which leaves an everlasting impact on the reader and truly changes one's perception of that characteristic.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how steinbeck's "the chrysanthemums" uses symbols to express the theme of true communication in both directions.
- Analyzes how steinbeck relates the characteristics of the chrysanthemum to various events in the story.
- Analyzes how steinbeck relates the petals of the chrysanthemums to major occurrences in his story.
- Analyzes how elisa gives and opens herself up as she wishes to have true and intimate communication with someone, but her overtures are not reciprocated.
- Analyzes how steinbeck uses various symbols to express a major theme, i.e., true communication, which leaves an everlasting impact on the reader.
Related
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- The Man to Send Rain Cloudsanalytical essay... Through the symbolism, setting and conflict, “The Chrysanthemums” depicts the truth of the isolation and depression of women not only in early 20th century America when Steinbeck wrote his novel but also at present. In the story, the symbolism of the chrysanthemums and how it is viewed by the male characters of the story somehow shows the dominance of men and their natural tendency to manipulative women. Moreover, the setting of the story somehow describes how isolated the Salinas Valley is from the rest of the world, which is rather symbolic of women’s isolation from the rest of the free society. Lastly, the conflict in the story, which is the lying and manipulative ways of the tinker, somehow brings to mind the idea that both the evil ways of men and the submission of women actually produces the reality of gender discrimination that is very difficult to change.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how steinbeck uses symbolism, setting, and conflict to demonstrate that women feel depressed and isolated in a male-dominated society.
- Analyzes how the symbolism in the story reveals the depression and isolation of women in a society where men rule and dominate.
- Analyzes how the chrysanthemums were symbolic of the neglect of men towards women in early 20th century america.
- Analyzes how steinbeck glorifies the setting and assigns it the role of a template for social dislocation. the fog of winter closed off the salinas valley and its characters from the rest of the world.
- Concludes that naturalism is an important controlling feature in the development of steinbeck's themes. naturalism is a philosophy that only speaks of survival and does not emphasize love, understanding, consideration or kindness.
- Analyzes how the conflict in the story shows the pain of isolation and depression that women experience in a world dominated by men.
- Analyzes how the conflict in "the chrysanthemums" reveals the truth that the equality of women is only a mere farce and that there is no hope for it.
- Analyzes how steinbeck's "the chrysanthemums" depicts the truth of the isolation and depression of women in early 20th century america.
1587 wordsRead More - The Chrysanthemums Symbolize Eliezer'sanalytical essayTo begin with, the chrysanthemums symbolize Elisa's youngsters. She tends her greenhouse and handles the chrysanthemums with affection and consideration, pretty much as she would handle her own particular youngsters. Elisa is extremely defensive of her blooms and places a wire wall around them and she ensures there are no bugs there. Her terrier fingers obliterate such vermin before they can begin. These bugs speak to common mischief to the blooms, and, generally as any great mother, she uproots them before they can hurt her kids. The chrysanthemums are typical of her kids, and she is exceptionally pleased with them. At the point when Elisa's spouse compliments her on her blooms, and she is glad, and all over there is a little priggishness.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the chrysanthemums symbolize elisa's youngsters. she tends her greenhouse and handles them with affection and consideration.
158 wordsRead More - The Chrysanthemums Compare And Contrastanalytical essayThe main character in John Steinback’s short story: The Chrysanthemums, is a married woman named Elisa Allen. She is a hardworking diligent young woman. In the opening chapters of The Chrysanthemums, Elisa is seen heartily in a great degree tendering to her gentle flowers. Powerful she is – gentle and conservative with her strength. She knows her weakness. Like the gentle calm flow of water embedding itself into layers of strata – which forms the highest peaks and grandest canyons.
In this essay, the author
- Compares and contrasts the main character in john steinback's short story, the chrysanthemums, with elisa allen, a hardworking, diligent young woman.
- Analyzes how the woman's figure looked blocked and heavy in her gardening costume, clod-hopper shoes, corduroy apron with four big pockets to hold snips, trowel and scratcher, seeds and knife.
- Analyzes how elisa allen's lionhearted clothes reflected her valiant and strong attitude. her tongue spilled bittersweet black smut like that of industrialized coal engines.
- Describes how elisa was visited by a strange wanderer, whose sunken words echoed with every single syllable she sought after. the man left faster than the sound of his echoing horse hoofs reached her ears.
- Narrates how elisa stood in front of her wire fence watching the slow progress of the caravan. her lips moved silently, forming the words "good-bye." she shook herself free and looked about to see whether anyone had been listening.
- Describes how elisa and her husband were getting ready to loll toward the city for a meal. she dressed in her more beautiful attire, makeup, and blush properly placed to her features looked feminine.
- Analyzes how she relaxed limply in the seat. "oh, no. no. i don't want to go." she turned her coat collar so he could not see that she was crying weakly.
- Compares elisa and mrs. whipple in "he" and explains how he handles farm animals.
- Compares elisa and mrs. whipple's tone, but the underlying message is that they care what people think of their image.
- Opines that mrs. whipple was all for taking what was sent and calling it good, anyhow when the neighbors were in earshot.
- Analyzes how mrs. whipple complained about the current state of things while elisa only became slightly irritated because of repetitive questions. their attitude and tone can be contrasted in the two stories.
- Opines that mrs. whipple felt tired too, she complained in a tired voice. "what's done can't never be undone, i know that as good as anybody."
- Analyzes how mrs. whipple and elisa cared about how the world perceived them in their departure and adieu. they were afraid of seeing an unholy beast abhorred by man.
835 wordsRead More - Steinbeck, John. “Chrysanthemums.” Forty Short Stories: A Portable Anthology. Ed. Beverly Lawn. Boston: Bedford St. Martin’s, 2001.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes elisa's unfulfilled sexual desires in "chrysanthemums," written by john steinbeck and introduced in 1937.
- Analyzes how elisa channeled all her attention and nurturing into her beloved chrysanthemums.
- Describes how a traveling tinker showed interest in elisa's chrysanthemums to persuade her to let him fix some pots for her.
- Analyzes how elisa felt feminine, desirable, and wanted to look different. she applied make-up to her face, styled her hair and wore a dress that made her look nice.
- Analyzes how elisa let her guard down and anxiously poured her heart and soul out to a stranger when interest was shown in her chrysanthemums. she was devastated and felt as though her sexual peak was passing her by.
- Analyzes how elisa wanted love and attention from her chrysanthemums, but she didn't want to be a desirable woman. she felt sexually aroused and became more masculine and less desirable to her husband.
1249 wordsRead More - Gender Roles In John Steinbeck's 'The Chrysanthemums'?analytical essayHe is like other authors, sympathetic to their opposite gender. “The Chrysanthemums” is one of his works were he basically expresses his opinion and how he feels about women. This story is about Elisa Allen, a woman who’s is doing her favorite thing planting and growing chrysanthemums. She is very passionate about doing this. Elis feels superior and strong when working with her flowers, “The chrysanthemum stems seemed too small and easy for her energy.” (Steinbeck, John 1) Her husband doesn’t appreciate her talent. He tells her “I wish you’d work out in the orchard and raise some apples that big.” (Steinbeck, John 2) The inferior and weak woman starts to come out now. It came out even more after her husband said that but also when she and her husband are driving to town. She sees the flowers the pot mender had asked for dumped on the side of the road. He must have dumped them right after he left her house. The pot mender played her. He acted interested in what she was doing so Elisa would have sympathy for him and give him something to fix up. With the way her husband and the pot mender acted toward her and her plants made her feel rejected and hurt.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that women and men have stereotype gender roles. they are strong, if not stronger than me, and can do the same things men do.
- Analyzes how gender roles and gender stereotypes have become a major part of our society. if we could end gendered oppression and stereotype, we would solve many other problems.
- Analyzes how the book "women's oppression: where it comes from and how to fight it" explains that women are an exploited group mainly in the workforce area.
- Analyzes how john steinbeck's "the chrysanthemums" expresses his opinion and how he feels about women. elisa feels superior and strong when working with her flowers.
- Explains that women contribute to the working class in today's society. they are capable of cleaning, cooking, raising kids, taking care of everyone else, and maintaining a steady job.
726 wordsRead More - The Chrysanthemums Essayanalytical essay“It has always seemed strange to me... the things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling, are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest, are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first they love the produce of the second.” This quote was once said by an amazing author, who described the world’s society today so perfectly that one may forget that he had was describing his society in the early and mid-nineteenth hundreds. John Steinbeck is considered one of America’s greatest author of literature. Many of his work is still read today as required reading in most high schools and college literature classes throughout the United States. His most famous story that had outlived him was the Grapes of Wrath, which led to him receive the Nobel Prize in Literature and the Pulitzer Prize in 1940. Many of John Steinbeck told in a realistic view of life and how men lived in them. Steinbeck grew up in California's Salinas Valley, a diverse area with a rich history. His upbringing help shape his writing, which gave many of his works a sense of place. The Chrysanthemums is a short story a part of John Steinbeck collection of The Long Valley. In his short story, The Chrysanthemums, it deal with different problems in society; however, some problems stand out more than others. Many people have interpret the story into many different ways, but my interpretation of the story depicts the inequality of gender in society, the analysis of the character Elisa , and the symbolic meaning of the Chrysanthemums.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how john steinbeck described the world's society so perfectly that one may forget that he was describing it in the early and mid-nineteenth centuries.
- Analyzes how the chrysanthemums is an understated critique of society in america that has no place and some would say no need for intelligent women.
- Analyzes how elisa allen's character in the chrysanthemums shows the inner working of a woman mind in an inequality society.
- Analyzes how the symbolism of the chrysanthemums symbolizes elisa and the limited scope of her or any other women in life.
1128 wordsRead More - The Chrysanthemums John Steinbeck Analysisanalytical essaySteinbeck displays an extraordinary ability to delve into the complexities of a woman’s consciousness. “The Chrysanthemums” is told in the third person, but the narration is presented almost entirely from Elisa’s point of view. After the first few paragraphs that set the scene, Steinbeck shrugs off omniscience and refuses to stray from Elisa’s head. This technique allows him to examine her psyche and show us the world through her eyes. We are put in her shoes and experience her frustrations and feelings. Because she doesn’t know what Henry is discussing with the men in suits who come to the ranch, we don’t know either. Because she sees the tinker as a handsome man, we do too. Because she watches his lips while he fixes her pots, we watch them
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how steinbeck's "the chrysanthemums" is told in the third person, but the narration is presented almost entirely from elisa’s point of view.
152 wordsRead More - The Chrysanthemums Settinganalytical essayThe author, John Steinbeck, uses many methods in his story, “The Chrysanthemums” to develop the character of Elisa. He specifically uses the setting as his main source for development. In the beginning the story it opens up by describing when and where the story takes place, which is in December, in the garden of Henry Allen’s farm. Steinbeck writes in his story, “On every side it sat like a lid on the mountains and made of the great valley a closed pot.” This reveals that someone or something is enclosed. Might as well feel trapped in whats seems to be a closed pot. Us as readers know this is referring to the main character, Elisa. When revealing characteristics about Elisa, the story continues, “Across the river, on Henry Allen's foothill ranch there was little work to be done, for the hay was cut and stored and the orchards were plowed up to receive the rain deeply when it should come.” Having little work to be done, we know that a character takes good care of the farm, and has the ability to keep things tidy, like the hay that was perfectly cut.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how john steinbeck uses the setting as his main source for development in his story, "the chrysanthemums."
- Analyzes how elisa describes the nest setting through her point of view. she only dreams of what it would seem like if she lived on the wagon, traveling through the road.
444 wordsRead More - Cynthia Bily's Essay 'The Chrysanthemums'analytical essayEnglish Instructor at Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan, Cynthia Bily in her article “The Chrysanthemums” (2002) argues that in a male-dominated or practical-minded society, Elisa is oppressed and her chrysanthemums are compensation for what she is missing in her life. She supports her claim by first explaining ecofeminism and how women and nature are connected, the shows how Elisa is limited by her husband and the tinker telling her what she cannot do, then discussing the strength Elisa gets from being one and connecting with the plants, and finally sharing examples of how every man in the story subdues and disrespects nature instead. Bily’s purpose is to show the various connections between Elisa, the men, the plants, and the society in
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how cynthia bily's article "the chrysanthemums" argues that elisa is oppressed in a male-dominated or practical-minded society. she explains ecofeminism and how women and nature are connected.
146 wordsRead More - 'Symbolism In The Chrysanthemums'analytical essayWithin The Chrysanthemums, Elisa is frustrated with her life on the ranch and secretly fantasizes about running away with the stranger and living on the road instead. The Chrysanthemums themselves are used as a symbols of Elisa's life, Elisa cannot accept this disappointment, and therefore fails at changing. In The Chrysanthemums, "Elisa took off her gloves and stuffed them in the apron pocket with the scissors. She touched the under edge of her man's hat, searching for fugitive hairs. 'That sounds like a nice kind of way to live,' she said," so in this quote Elisa comments on the way the stranger lives his life. This could then hint to that she is unhappy with her life. Another quote to show Elisa’s unhappy, is when "Elisa's voice grew husky.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how elisa is frustrated with her life on the ranch and secretly fantasizes about running away with the stranger and living on road instead.
223 wordsRead More