Symbolism- "The Chrysanthemums John Steinbecks' "The Chrysanthemums" is a story that utilizes symbolism on many levels. Most of all, I believe in the character of Elisa Adams. Elisa and her garden seem to be considered one. Because of all of her hard labor and love the Chrysanthemums flourish. The Chrysanthemums being a symbol of children that she never had. Also Chrysanthemums are a symbol of death. The pairing of the death association and the symbol …showed first 75 words of 443 total…

…showed last 75 words of 443 total…as most women. The title of the story is a symbol of her life. The flowers represent both life and death to her. Since she has no children she uses her God given motherly gifts on her flowers. The flowers do not live as long as children do, so she has to go through the heart ache when one of her flowers die. The flowers symbolize everything she has and what she is made of.