John Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums” represents the oppression of women during the early 1900’s through sexual undertones. Elisa is a woman who struggles to find where she belongs in her time period. She on one hand wants to work and watch fights, which is a man’s job, and on the other hand wants to be viewed as pretty, feminine and deserving of intimacy. Her internal struggle is referenced with insinuations of sexuality, sexual assault and the juxtaposition of a man versus a woman’s role in society. 

The Chrysanthemum, which Elisa is so protective of, represents a woman’s vagina, and in turn sexuality: fragile yet strong. Women are supposed to be sensitive yet strong enough to raise a family, polite and sensible yet also fierce and sexual. This is the chrysanthemum flower. Henry says that some of the flowers grew to be “ten inches across” but the stems are also “too small and easy” for Elisa’s energy. The flower is a literal representation of something strong yet delicate. Throughout the story Elisa is so proud of her chrysanthemum growth and how she takes care of them, however, the stranger thinks nothing of them and only uses them to get what he wants. While driving, she sees that the flowers were thrown out on the side of the road. Steinbeck writes, “In a moment it was over. The thing was done. She did not look back” to allude to rape and emphasize the worthlessness of a woman during the time (7). A woman was viewed as disposable and often mistreated. This passage uses the chrysanthemum to show the double standard of the time, that a man could use a woman for what he wanted but get rid of her as soon as she was no longer needed. 

While demonstrating how to care for the chrysanthemums Elisa gets lost in her description and begins to describe how she uses her hands so naturally just based on feeling. This is a reference to sex: something natural that people do based on feeling where there are no set rules. While talking about her chrysanthemums “her breast swelled passionately” (5). Just from the stranger showing interest in her flowers her entire attitude changes. Her body subconsciously reacts to the sexual illusion. As she kneels on the ground she almost touches the stranger, the two exchange witty banter until the man is able to charm Elisa into giving him work. When the stranger leaves she runs into the house “And then she scrubbed herself with a little block of pumice, legs and thighs, loins and chest and arms, until her skin was scratched and red. When she had dried herself she stood in front of a mirror in her bedroom and looked at her body. She tightened her stomach and threw out her chest. She turned and looked over her shoulder at her back” (6). Steinbeck uses her cleanse to transform her. Her harsh scrubbing is trying to cleanse her of her dirty flirtation with the stranger, since during the time that the story takes place a woman was not allowed to act outright sexual. In addition, she is a married woman, so any kind of other liaison emphasizes her inappropriate behavior. Her aggressive bathing is used to show her disgust in herself, so much so that she feels the need to redden her skin. Now, instead of using the flowers as a symbol of her sexuality, she becomes the symbol as she changes into a pretty, feminine and acceptable woman. 

In the middle of the story the stranger asks Elisa for work, and when she says no he persists consistently. No matter her answer the stranger comes up with a new line and a new way to try and convince her. When he saw the chrysanthemums he immediately asked Elisa about them to try and steer the conversation in a way to get what he wanted. He compliments her, talks about something that interests her and makes her feel important, all while pulling a trick to benefit him. This is the typical pursuit of a woman: by appealing to her pathos he is able to achieve his goal. Steinbeck writes this like a flirtatious encounter between a man and a woman, even though it is a business exchange. The stranger makes Elisa feel as if she is in control when he says, "I s'pose I can't take none to her, then” and gives her the option of giving him her flowers (4). In doing this she feels important and no longer worthless. The purpose of this is to reference how a man was able to control a woman and exploit her sexuality in order to receive something in return. 

Elisa is described to have eyes “clear as water” yet wears “a man’s black hat pulled low down over her eyes” (1). Clear eyes often symbolize a person who is mentally shrewd and perceptive, however, Elisa’s eyes are covered by men: the societal man is blocking her feministic perspective. Throughout the story Elisa is diminished as a person, being a woman she is viewed as less important and throwaway. This is Steinbeck’s analysis of a woman in the time period: pulled by her societal role of a woman being “seen and not heard” while she struggles internally to find who she is, how to properly act and also feel like a fulfilled person. The most consistent aspect through the story is the sexual undertone. Out of context many of these passages read as flirtatious, but on a surface level it is a story of gardening. Similar to the time period, on the surface women seemed happy but underlying there were many societal problems and abuse of a woman’s role. “The Chrysanthemums” is a short story that helps depict the stereotypical role of a woman in the early 20th century through sexual connotation. John Steinbeck uses the “ideal” man and woman as juxtaposed characters representing the tyranny over feminism and sexuality.  