The Chrysanthemums

The Chrysanthemums

Most readers who analyze Steinbeck's short story, "The Chrysanthemums", feel Elisa's flowers represent her repressed sexuality, and her anger and resentment towards men. Some even push the symbolism of the flowers, and Elisa's masculine actions, to suggest she is unable to establish a true relationship between herself and another. Her masculine traits and her chrysanthemums are enough to fulfill her entirely. This paper will discuss an opposing viewpoint to this usual analysis. Instead, it will argue that Elisa's chrysanthemums, and her masculine qualities are natural manifestations of a male dominated world. Pertinent examples from "The Chrysanthemums" will be given in an attempt to illustrate that Elisa's character qualities, and gardening skills, are the survival traits she's adopted in order to survive, and keep her femininity and vulnerability in a man's world.

The first evidence that supports this conclusion is the behavior which occurs between Elisa and her husband, Henry. There is a "deeply rooted dysfunction between Henry and Elisa, [which is] a lack of real communication" (Palmerino, 1). They are "successful" farmers, but it is Henry who tends the economic production. The opening sets up a character contrast which runs throughout the piece by showing Henry selling thirty head of beef, while Elisa grows "beautiful" chrysanthemums. The contrast is that of the differences between a masculine and a feminine perspective of each other. This shows a limiting of Elisa from a man's point-of-view. Henry tells Elisa that she has a way with growing things, but he feels she is only contributing in an aesthetic way. In other words, Elisa is made to feel that her contribution isn't as worthy as a man's even though the insult is hidden in Henry's compliment to her. However, since the compliment is coming from a man who doesn't have a liberal attitude towards women, because he is the breadwinner, the praise is scaled down to that limited viewpoint. If he gave her any personal praise, as a woman of distinct qualities (one who was vital to the farm's survival), he might be empowering her. Thus, he keeps his praise for her superficial skills, growing flowers. In this way, Henry frustrates Elisa by not seeing into her true character. The flowers represent Elisa trying to find some way of escaping from her frustrated and repressed husband, not from her own sexual frustration.

Since Elisa is a woman with more than superficial qualities, in addition to being a good worker, she seeks a way to fit into this world she feels is limited to her. She feels that it is limited because it is being dominated and interpreted by men. Thus, she tries to seek out some understanding from a stranger who is looking to find "fix-it" work. Many readers see Elisa as being cold and frigid towards the stranger at first appearance. Yet, this is quite possibly her intelligent reaction from being experienced with the realities of life. This scene portrays a "combat of wits in which she shows herself a person of right feeling, one who doesn't let her charitable instincts run away with her" (Beach, 312). Here we have a strange man, and men have proven to Elisa they have a limited understanding of a woman's gentler qualities. Her reaction shows intelligence, good instincts, and is revealing of the period in which the story takes place. How many of us would be quick to open ourselves up to a strange man, one whom we knew was trying to sell us his skill, especially if we were a woman alone on a farm? The time period was one in which many people could fool others with phony claims. Many critics feel the man knows a lot about human nature and is hard-bitten, but it is Elisa who is cautious at first.

Elisa finally opens herself up to this man, and as usual she is wounded when she does reveal her vulnerability. First, she is taken advantage of by a man who may not be well-rounded in human nature, but who certainly knows how to use people. The salesman tells Elisa she grows flowers much better than a woman he knows who grows the same flowers. Therefore, she is more fertile and abundant. This is where Elisa softens and succumbs to finding the man some improvised repair work. The difference with this situation is that Elisa, being a woman, is not even aware that this is just another game men use to take advantage of and limit