ed sexuality to shine through (Pittmann 1). “ A figured print dress almost completely covered by a big corduroy apron with four big pockets (Steinbeck 1463).” Steinbeck, by allowing the dress to be seen, is showing the readers Elisa passion that long to be unbridled. The manly gloves that she wore to protect her hands show that she still wants to be a women yet long for the adventure a man’s life contains. Clothing was not the only symbol of repression in John Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums.”There are many symbolic references to Elisa Allen as a sexually repressed and frustrated woman. One representation of the chrysanthemum is Elisa’s passion and eagerness to live and experience life a content woman. While tending her chrysanthemums “she pulled out the crisp little roots and trimmed of the leaves of each one with her scissors (Steinbeck 1464).” This is a symbolism of Elisa Allen closing off all opportunities to grow as a sexual woman; She has resigned herself to the monotonous life as a complacent farmer’s wife (Lee 1). The “figured print dress (Steinbeck 1463)” under the apron shows the readers that Elisa is aware of her sexuality but instead of acting on it has chosen to subdue it. She keeps her sexuality and passions under control like she cares for her chrysanthemums “laid [in a] small [and] orderly pile (Steinbeck 1464)” (Lee 1). Elisa begins to allow this sexuality to emerge when the traveling tinker romantically describes her chrysanthemums as a “quick puff of colored smoke (Steinbeck 1465).” She begins to talk eagerly about her chrysanthemums has a sexual experience with the tinker when describing the planter’s hand which should have been called lover’s hands. She described the lover’s hand as “they never make a mistake, know[ing] [where to touch], when your like that you can’t do anything wrong (Steinb...
