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What does the "scent of apples" symbolize in Bienvenido Santos's story?
Quick answer:
The "scent of apples" in Bienvenido Santos's story symbolizes nostalgia and longing for home. This is evident as the fragrance evokes memories and a sense of homesickness for both Fabia and the narrator, who are far from their native Philippines. The recurring mention of apples serves as a metaphor for home and the past, highlighting their deep yearning for their homeland.
The scent of apples is possibly symbolic of the deep longing of the narrator for his homeland, the Philippines. When apples and their scents are mentioned in the story, a general feeling of sadness and homesickness is apparent.
In one instance, the narrator asks if the trees standing far away are apple trees. Although he is often talking about apples, it seems that apples are a metaphor for home and the past.
The scent of apples in the story The Scent of Apples refers to the low paying type of jobs that Filipinos had to take when they came to America. Picking fruit was one type of job, therefore, the literal scent of apples indicates the profession of the worker who spends all his time in the orchard picking apples.
"The first wave of Filipino immigration to the United States occurred between 1906 and 1934, when Filipinos were recruited to California as agricultural workers."
"Filipino Americans have at all periods faced discrimination because of their national origins. Many have been confined to low-status, low-income jobs."
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