What Does The Ripe Fig Symbolize

Symbolism in "Ripe Figs"
Kate Chopin is an author in the late 1800s that wrote many short stories. Most of her stories involved naturalism, women suffrage, and symbolism. In the short story, "Ripe Figs", symbolism is used profoundly: from the fig itself, to Babette, the main character, and Maman-Nainaine, her god-mother.
Chopin uses the fig to represent many different things. In the beginning of the story, the fig is described as "little hard, green marbles" (25). That means that it was immature and has not ripened. It also means that it needs time to grow. The way to make the fig grow, it says it the story, is "warm rain and plenty of strong sunshine"(26). That means that it takes time and goes through hard times and good times in life just like people do. After the fig has grown, it is described completely different. It says that it has "spreading branches"(26), which means that it has grown with knowledge. The figs are now purple, and purple stands for maturity. The fig also has "rich, green leaves"(26). The leaves represent that the fig has learned many things over the process of it growing.

When Babette is young, she is immature and irresponsible, that is why she cannot travel to see her cousins yet. In the story, young Babette is described as "restless as a humming-bird"(26), therefor meaning that Babette is impatient. As Babette grows up she becomes more mature, responsible, and patience, that is why she finally gets to travel to see her cousins and aunt all on her own. Babette and the fig are very similar throughout the story. Just like the fig grows and matures over time, so does Babette. That is why her god-mother tells her that when the figs have ripened then you can go and see your