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The story “The Chrysanthemums” centers on the character of Elisa Allen and her relationship with her husband Henry. In “The Chrysanthemums” John Steinbeck uses imagery and symbolism to depict Elisa’s repressed emotions while the use of setting further details the ways she has been confined by the social constructs of the male dominated society she lives in. Elisa embodies the image of what women in her time period were like. She is portrayed as a simple woman, who is eager to escape the roles society has placed on her. Now while Elisa exhibits some traits typical of females at the time, Steinbeck makes a point to highlight her masculinity fairly early on.

In the beginning of the story, John Steinbeck describes Elisa as “having a lean and strong face with eyes as clear as water” (229). Steinbeck also states, “Her figure looked blocked and heavy in her gardening costume, a man’s black hat pulled low down over her eyes” (229). This statement by Steinbeck is a description of Elisa’s appearance which reinforces the idea that due to her inability to express herself that over time Elisa has inevitably developed some masculine traits. As the story continues, Elisa is in the field on her family’s ranch working in her flower garden. Steinbeck states, “The high gray-flannel fog of winter closed off the Salinas Valley from the sky and from all the rest of the world” (228).

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In this statement Steinbeck uses vivid illustration with to depict the Elisa’s environment as distant and isolated. This environment is the foundation for Elisa’s need for affection and more attention. Due to her isolation and her husband’s lack of attentiveness, Elisa spends a great deal of time in her flower garden tending to her chrysanthemums. The...

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Throughout this story John Steinbeck used the chrysanthemums as a way to express Elisa’s feeling of isolation and discontent at the way her life had turned out, while giving a fairly detailed explanation for why she felt this way. In the story Elisa Allen is a woman who is dissatisfied with the lack of both excitement and recognition she receives. Also she undoubtedly is the embodiment of all the women of her time who have felt the same restrictions shown in this story. Elisa is clearly unhappy with her life but will not confront this unhappiness. She hides her emotions from her husband as many women did during this time. Her frustration with the male-dominated society causes her suppress her true feelings and she perfect example of how until people are willing to truly express themselves they will always be stuck in the confines of a situation of their own making.