Symbolism of Pomegranates in Literature
Symbolism is an important aspect of literature because it helps the reader discover deeper meanings in a poem or book. To understand a symbol, a tangible object in literature must be unwrapped to see its abstract, conceptual significance. Fruit has been a long-standing symbol since the beginning of literature; moreover, pomegranates have been used as symbolism in literature for early religious writings in the east as well as the west. Even some of the western giant authors, like Shakespeare and Homer, employed this powerful symbol of pomegranates in their work. The symbolism of pomegranates in literature has a long history, and its greater metaphoric meaning dates back to Ancient Greece.
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Ancient Greek Literature
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The pomegranate appears many times in Greek mythology. It is most famous in the story of Persephone and is known in classic Greek myth as a symbol of fertility and bounty. To summarize the story, Hades, king of the underworld, takes Persephone to the underworld. Demeter, goddess of crops and Persephone's mother, became enraged and stopped crop growth. Zeus then ordered the release of Persephone. Hades, before she leaves, forces her to eat pomegranate seeds and thus doomed the goddess to the underworld for a portion of every year. From then on, while Persephone is underground, agricultural growth stops and the world turns dry; when she rises back to the world, the earth begins producing an abundance of crops and flowers. Hence, Persephone's eating of the pomegranate seed represents the changing of seasons; her rise to earth represents spring and rejuvenation; her descent represents the winter's approach and death. Pomegranates, thus, symbolize fertility, resurrection, and fruitfulness while also being the significance of changing times and seasons.
Judaic Literature
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The pomegranate is prevalent throughout the Hebrew Bible and now carries with it a deep tradition and symbolic significance within the religion. One of Moses' scouts who visited the Promised Land brought back a pomegranate to prove the place he had seen was plentiful; King Solomon's crown is said to have been made in the image of the crown of the pomegranate fruit; King Solomon's capital pillars are also said to have been decorated with pillars. Pomegranates, in the literature of the Hebrew Bible, have come to embody fruitfulness, beauty, honor and sagacity. Also, because the fruit has been often placed alongside King Solomon, it is seen as a metaphor for righteousness.
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Shakespeare's Pomegranate
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One of William Shakespeare's most famous plays, "Romeo and Juliet," references the pomegranate fruit. Following the secret marriage, a scene in Act Three, Scene Two opens with a nightingale waking Romeo and warning him to get home before sunrise. Romeo and Juliet had spent the night together in Juliet's room. The nightingale, interestingly enough, is perched on a pomegranate tree. Here, this fruit could symbolize a wide range of concepts, from true love to innocence. It also symbolizes forbidden love since the families of Romeo and Juliet certainly prohibited marriage between the two families.
Other Symbolism
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Pomegranates have been depicted in Chinese art, in the Qur'an, in the writings of Oscar Wilde, and in Italian paintings as well as many other stories, cultural artworks and legends. Since the pomegranate functions as a symbol of fertility in literature, it can also be a metaphor for birth. Its crown-like top also points to the concept of royalty. Because of its many seeds, it can also express unity among a certain group or groups; this idea is especially popular in the Christian literary use of the pomegranate. When it comes to religious literature, pomegranates have been a consistently used as a powerful metaphorical device.
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References
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