eck 1467).” She goes on to describe it as “hot sharp and—lovely (Steinbeck 1467).” When she has given the merchant her chrysanthemums her suppressed sexuality wholly emerges. This is a form of an orgasmic experience for Elisa when “the night is dark [and] every pointed star gets driven into your body [and] you rise up and up (Steinbeck 1467)” (Lee 1). Unfortunately, shortly after the glimpse of the full passion and sexuality that Elisa is capable of it is ruthlessly crushed and she restrains it forever. When Elisa spots the chrysanthemums lying broken in the road “she tried not to look as they passed but her eyes would not obey (Steinbeck 1469).” She knows that she will never experience the uninhibited passion again but is resolved to overcome her longings. “I’m strong… I never knew before how strong (Steinbeck 1469).” Because she has been subjected to that passion and the fact that she now knows that she will never experience it again her tender resolve breaks and she retreated to her manly ways. “She turned her coat collar so he could not see that she was crying weakly-like an old woman (Steinbeck 1470).” The fact that she has pulled up her coat collar shows that she has once again withdrawn inside herself and has given up on her sexuality and resigned herself to an isolated life as a planter’s spouse.John Steinbeck incorporated many symbols into “The Chrysanthemums” to represent isolation. Elisa Allen is an eager person who hungers for excitement and passion in her life. Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond her control she is virtually isolated from society trapped on a country farm. Although she is isolated she is able to retain the values that society hold dear. “The high gray-flannel fog of winter closed off the Salinas valley (Steinbeck 1462).” The fog surrounding the Salinas valley is a representation of the bar...
