“Space seems gendered” (Kurdish). The fence could symbolize Elisa's sexual desires. Elisa stood in front of her fence, watching the slow progress of the caravan. » He placed his calloused hands on the fence. (Steinbeck 1064). “He ran a big finger across the fence and made it sing” (Steinbeck 1064). Chrysanthemums symbolize Elisa herself, like the flower that she takes good care of and is beautiful. In the end, his emotions are like chrysanthemums thrown to the side of the road. “Let the story begin and end with her and let the flowers tell us that they are in some way gauges of her feelings” (Kordich). The use of diction to describe the sexual tension between Elisa and the handyman. Warm, lively, and charming” (Steinbeck 1065). Elisa came through the door to watch him while he fixed the dents in the kettles” (Steinbeck 1066). “The valley and the pots suggest the female sex, while the knives and scissors suggest the male sex” (Werlock). The tone of John Steinbeck's Chrysanthemums is a feeling of envy towards men. “In his tone and on his face there was a little smugness” (Steinbeck 1062). I wish women could do such things” (Steinbeck 1066). She told the handyman how to take care of the flower and he simply threw it away. Also a very nostalgic feeling about the story. Elisa longs for a different or more exciting life. She tells the Tinkerer about the way he travels: “It seems like a nice way to live.”