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 by using objects as symbols to portray these characters feelings and emotions in a round about way. One example is the flowers. The flowers in this story show society's disregard for women as sexual beings. That is way Elisa takes care of the flowers the way she does. It is her passion. Another example is the fence around her garden. This fence protects outsiders and any harm that may come to her garden. In the same way it symbolizes her protection and guard against her feelings. The garden is her place or her sanctuary. It is a place where men knew nothing. Henry, the traveling salesman, can also be symbolic in the story. He represents someone telling Elisa what she wants to hear. He does this and she opens up to him. She gives him a part of her by giving 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.
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