Journal #1: Analysis of “The Chrysanthemums” The story of “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck is a story about a woman, Elisa, who has desires and needs like any other woman. These desires and needs are unfulfilled and at that period of time it was not appropriate for women to express their feelings. So Elisa finds fulfillment by putting her care and feelings into her garden. This is not directly stated in the story, but is shown …showed first 75 words of 292 total…

…showed last 75 words of 292 total…him one of her flowers. She believes that Henry is someone who understands her so she can barely restrain her desires when she tries to reach out and touch him. The gloves are also symbolic. She takes off her gloves when she is potting the plant. This is a sign of her exposing herself to Henry. At the end of the story Elisa realizes that her feelings have no place in a man’s society.