“Space seems sexual” (Kurdish). The wire fence could symbolize Elisa's sexual desires. Elisa stood in front of her wire fence observing the slow advance of the caravan” Her calloused hands rested on the wire fence. (Steinbeck 1064). “He ran a thick finger along the wire and made it sing” (Steinbeck 1064). Chrysanthemums symbolize Elisa herself, like the flower she is well-groomed and beautiful. In the end his emotions are like chrysanthemums, thrown by the side of the road. “The fact that the story begins and ends with her and the flowers tells us that they are indicators, in a certain sense, of her feelings” (Kordich). The use of diction to describe the sexual tension between Elisa and the tinker. Warm, sharp and lovely” (Steinbeck 1065). Eliza came in through the gate to watch him pound the dents in the pots” (Steinbeck 1066). “Both the valley and the vases suggest the female sex, while the knives and scissors suggest the male sex” (Werlock). The tone in The Chrysanthemums, by John Steinbeck, is a sense of envy towards men. “There was some smugness in his tone and on his face” (Steinbeck 1062). I wish women could do these things” (Steinbeck 1066). She explained to the tinsmith how to take care of the flower and he simply threw it away. Also a very melancholic feeling to the story. Elisa wants a different or more exciting life. He tells the tinker how he travels: “It seems like a nice way to live”