Chrysanthemums
... In John Steinbeck’s short story, ‘The Chrysanthemums’ the main character, Elisa Allen, is compared to a chrysanthemum. Some may argue that a chrysanthemum us not an appropriate symbol to describe a woman, however Elisa and the chrysanthemums she gardens actually share many characteristics. ... Leroy Thomas notices and comments on this in his article “Steinbeck’s ‘The Chrysanthemums’. ... She cares for her chrysanthemums as she cares for herself, and protects them anyway she can. ... She begins to explain that the flowers are chrysanthemums and as she talks of them we see that the flowers are the love of her life. ... The tinker speaks of a woman down the way who has always asked for chrysanthemums. ... Thomas also points out that “when Elisa talks with the Tinker about the care of the chrysanthemums she is “kneeling on the ground looking up at him,” (249).