The Chrysanthemums Symbolism

In John Steinbeck's “The Chrysanthemums” Elisa Allen shows how women are being oppressed and trapped in a man's world. Steinbeck does a good job developing the theme over the course of the story. Steinbeck uses many symbols to get his point across. In the first paragraph the theme is displayed when the narrator states the Salinas Valley is like living in a closed pot. A few paragraphs later the chrysanthemum flower is used as a symbol to display the theme. Finally, Elisa's clothes are used to show the reader how women are being oppressed. These ideas help the reader understand what the theme of the story truly is.

Firstly, at the beginning of the story the narrator illustrates the scene to the reader by saying the Salinas Valley is like living in a closed pot. The narrator states “The high grey-flannel fog of winter closed off the Salinas Valley from the sky and from the rest of the world. On every side it sat like a lid on the mountains and made of the great valley a closed pot(269)”. This quote allows the reader to understand the theme right from the beginning of the story. The Salinas Valley is used as a symbol to allow the reader to understand how women living in the valley
The Chrysanthemums that Elisa Allen grows represents how her and many other women were treated during this time. Currently, the Chrysanthemums are bare and dormant with no flowers. This is similar to Elisa's life because her life is bare dormant with no excitement. Furthermore, the Chrysanthemums also show the theme by how they are grown in the valley. The narrator proclaims “There was a little square sandy bed kept for rooting the Chrysanthemums(271)”. The chrysanthemums are grown in a limited space which does not allow them to grow to their fullest potential. This resembles how Elisa and many other women are being trapped by men. Women are limited to a small space and cannot perform at their