Sexuality in John Steinbecks The Chrysanthemums Essay

Sexuality in Steinbecks The Chrysanthemums Reading over this excellent story once more, I am again filled with the same emotion (if it can be called that) that I experienced when first reading it. Steinbeck planned for that. In a letter to George Albee in 1933, Steinbeck comments on this story and his interest in Albees opinion of it. ...It is entirely different and is designed to strike without the readers knowledge. I mean he reads it casually and after it is finished feels that something profound has happened to him although he does not know what nor how. I knew after reading this, that Steinbeck is truly a marvel. It is one thing to have enough luck to leave your readers with†¦show more content†¦He doesnt quite catch onto the eroticism of the story, and in stead, chooses to focus on the more crude innuendoes. ...The chrysanthemum stalks seem to be phallic symbols, and Elizas over-eager snipping of them suggests castration. Then in the rooting bed, Eliza herself becomes masculine, inserting the little crisp shoots into open, receptive furrows (Hughes 235). He goes on explaining how the shoots became Elizas children and how she communicates with the tinker on how to care for them. This makes perfect sense, but Eliza seems more concerned with the loss of her own life. For too long, the chrysanthemums have served in place of children. She is looking into reclaiming her own life, not finding another electric connection to live her life through. Hughes seems to ignore this, because all women by nature want to procreate and have children, right? The androgyny of Elizas character, however, would suggest otherwise. She isnt as pulled by that biological need as Hughes would suggest. Elizabeth E. McMahan is strong in saying that although people will agree that The Chrysanthemums is a story of a womans frustration, no one can adequately explain why. McMahan attributes the frustration to her unhappiness with her marriage. She explains that although she and Henry have a relationship of mutual respect, he has no giftShow MoreRelatedSymbolism in The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck Essay1547 Words   |  7 PagesSymbolism in The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck The Chrysanthemums, one of John Steinbecks masterpieces, describes a lonely farmers wife, Elisa Allen. Elisa Allens physical appearance is very mannish yet still allows a hint of a feminine side to peek through. John Steinbeck brings symbolism into play to represent Elisa Allens frustrations and hidden passions. Isolation is another representation through symbolism found in The Chrysanthemums. 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