Symbolism in "The Chrysanthemums"

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Symbolism in The Chrysanthemums
The Chrysanthemum by John Steinbeck is a story about a woman who finds her place in the garden. The proud and robust Woman named Elisa Allen has frustrations over her current life due to the lack of children as a result of the failure of her husband to have romantic admirations for her. The only available outlet for her frustrations is her flower garden where she cultivates beautiful chrysanthemums. A more in-depth inspection of the short story reveals the use of symbolism by John Steinbeck in the development of the story. The garden is not just a garden, but the flowers which she sees as more than only bulbs. There are also various actions which Elisa performs that carry other meanings.
There is a symbol of children in the chrysanthemums. Elisa handles the chrysanthemums with much love and cares just the way a woman would care for her children. The lack of children in the Marriage of Elisa makes her very protective of her flowers. She places a wire fence around the flowers and makes sure that aphids, bugs, snails or cutworms are not near her flowers, (Gale). She destroys pests before they can start destroying her flowers using her terrier fingers. The pests represent natural harm to flowers which have to be eliminated just like any mother would remove any potential damage to her children before it starts causing damage. Elisa is proud of her chrysanthemums just like any mother would be proud of her children, and when her husband compliments her on the flowers, she feels proud and even affords a little smugness on her face.
The chrysanthemums include the symbolism of femininity and sexuality. Taking care of flowers with love creates an image of femininity. Elisa is also portrayed as a proud and robust woman, which brings about masculinity in the sto...