Symbolism in 'The Chrysanthemums'

Paper Summary:

This five page paper critically examines John Steinbeck's short story, 'The Chrysanthemums' in order to extract the symbolism of the tale. It looks at the central characters of Elisa, Henry and the stranger to evict a deeper understanding of both the characters and the elements of the story. The writer demonstrates that through the symbols, Steinbeck expresses the undercurrent of frustration throughout the tale.

From the Paper:

"There are many famous short stories, such as Ernest Hemingway's `Hills Like White Elephants" which, although startlingly short, reveal major insights about both the central characters as well as humanity in general. Through heavy yet artful symbolism, an author can make something seemingly confusing or insignificant manifest itself into a hugely relevant detail. John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" is one of those tales. Utilizing a variety of symbols, such as Elisa's clothing, images of inside versus outside, fights and flowers, carefully placed throughout the short story, Steinbeck highlights the emotional separation of the main couple--Elisa and Henry--until it appears completely devoid of all hope for any recovery."

More papers on Symbolism in 'The Chrysanthemums':

• Book Review # 109414 : "Imagery in "The Chrysanthemums"
• Analytical Essay # 129193 : "Imagery in "The Chrysanthemums"
• Analytical Essay # 145327 : "'The Chrysanthemums' and Symbolism"

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