Chrysanthemums

It is often said that a woman is a delicate as a flower. In Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck, he uses symbolism to communicate the sexual desires and frustrations of a woman, Elisa. There are other symbols other than the flowers she tends to. They aid in Steinbeck’s message about the repressed sexuality of women.
Chrysanthemums represent joy and optimism in life. Elisa is shown right out as a person who cares very much about happiness by taking the time and energy to cultivate this garden for her own pleasure. Throughout the passage, she is described as being very strong, “her work with the scissors was over-eager, over-powerful,” and her features are described as “eager and mature and handsome.” (240) Her determination to make these flowers flourish shows her need to express her sexual desire. Her husband rarely responds to her hard work romantically, only factually. He praises her by saying that her new crop had a few that were “ten inches across” and mentions that he wishes she would “work in the orchard and raise some apples that big.” (240) Her response to him isn’t excited or happy at all, simply that “her eyes sharpened” and she says that it could be possible.
When the salesman rolls around things take a turn for the better for her. He responds romantically, albeit falsely, to her “sexuality”. When talking about the flowers, he describes them as a “quick puff of colored smoke” (243) and tells her that he enjoys their scent. She responds immediately and quite excitedly. The first thing she does is remove her hat to reveal her “dark pretty hair.” (243) Steinbeck goes on to show very sensually vivid imagery by mentioning that her “voice grew husky,” and “she was kneeling on the ground looking up at him. Her breast swelled passionately.” Elisa is reacting sensually to this mans romantic response. She has finally been given the chance to express herself freely. Trusting this man now, she gives him a part of her, through giving him a chrysanthemum.
After discovering that the man had thrown her flower away and kept the pot, Elisa was shattered. Ina sense, the man had taken her sexuality away under false pretenses and betrayed her. He deflowered her. Much like a vampire he took her innocence by using her to get what he wants. Elisa “turns up her coat collar so he could not see that she was crying weakly--like an old woman.” By comparing Elisa to an old woman, Steinbeck shows that her innocence is gone, her sexuality and vigor is diminished, and she has been completely transformed from the strong, eager woman she once was.
Steinbeck’s chrysanthemums tell the story of the betrayal of a sexually frustrated woman who opens up to love to the wrong person. When given the chance to express herself for the first time in a long time, she leaps for it, only to be crushed in the end. If the story were to continue, Elisa would most likely give up the hard work she put into her garden or more specifically destroy any chrysanthemum she comes across as a memory of the day she was robbed of her vitality.