摘 要

约翰·斯坦贝克，美国20世纪最重要的作家之一，善于探讨社会和环境问题。《菊花》是斯坦贝克最著名的短篇小说之一，塑造了一个坚强的女主人公艾丽莎，勇于追求自由独立的人生。

本文拟从身体和精神两个角度分析艾丽莎所面临的生存危机，揭示了女性在美国经济大萧条期间陷入艰难的境地。通过巧妙地运用象征手法，斯坦贝克建立了艾丽莎与菊花之间的联系。正如自己种植的菊花，艾丽莎美丽坚强，但是无人欣赏。丈夫亨利不认可艾丽莎的美，并且也不能满足她的性欲望。从精神层面来说，艾丽莎一直渴求自由和平等，但是因为补锅匠的欺骗，她的梦想最终破灭。

本文分为四章。第一章简要介绍作者约翰·斯坦贝克和短篇小说《菊花》。第二章从身体角度讨论艾丽莎的生存危机，包括她的外貌和对性的渴望。第三章着重讨论艾丽莎的心理活动，探讨她内心深处的女权意识。最后一章对全文进行概括总结。

关键字： 约翰·斯坦贝克；《菊花》；生存危机；象征手法

Abstract

John Steinbeck, one of the most important American writers in the 20^th century, is good at exploring social and environmental issues. The Chrysanthemums is one of Steinbeck’s best-known short stories, shaping a tough heroine Elisa who is bold in pursuing a free and independent life.

The thesis focuses on analyzing Elisa’s living crisis from the physical and spiritual perspectives, revealing that women were stuck in a difficult situation during the Great Depression. Through the delicate use of symbolism, Steinbeck establishes the relationship between Elisa and the chrysanthemum. Like the chrysanthemums she plant, Elisa is beautiful and tough, but nobody appreciates her. Elisa’s beauty is not recognized by her husband Henry who cannot satisfy Elisa’s sexual desire either. From the spiritual perspective, Elisa has been yearning for freedom and equality, however, her dream finally disillusions because of the potter’s deceit.

The thesis is made up of four chapters. The first chapter is the brief introduction to John Steinbeck and the short story The Chrysanthemums. The second chapter discusses Elisa’s living crisis from the physical perspective, including her appearance and sexual desire. The third chapter emphasizes Elisa’s mental activities, probing her feminist consciousness in her deep mind. The last chapter summarizes the whole thesis.

Key words: John Steinbeck; The Chrysanthemums; living crisis; symbolism

Contents

1 Introduction 1

1.1 John Steinbeck and The Chrysanthemums 1

1. 2 Literature review 1

1.3 Structure of the paper 2

2 Elisa’s Living Crisis from the Physical Perspective 4

2.1 Elisa’s appearance and physical features 4

2.2 Elisa’s sexual desire 5

2.2.1 Henry’s attitude 6

2.2.2 The potter’s attitude 7

3 Elisa’s Living Crisis from the Spiritual Perspective 8

3.1 Elisa’s dream of freedom 8

3.1.1 The symbolic meanings of the chrysanthemums 8

3.1.2 Disappointment with Henry 9

3.1.3 Disappointment with the potter 9

3.2. Elisa’s Dream of Equality 10

3.2.1 Equality of familial status 10

3.2.2 Equality of social status 11

4 Conclusion 13

References ................................................................................................................... 14

Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................... 15

Elisa’s Struggle: Interpreting Women’s Living Crisis in Steinbeck’s The Chrysanthemums