I love this!! I used to think about the fig tree passage like once a day until I remembered that the bell jar is from the perspective of someone who’s struggling with depression and that quote is purposeful in prompting the same feelings of hopelessness that the character is experiencing. For some reason that helped me understand that the fig metaphor is not a universal truth, is not a healthy state of mind, and while it puts a common feeling into words, it’s not the right way to think about the future. I think you capture that reframe so well here! xoxo
Absolutely! You also captured it so well in your comment 🥺 definitely helped me to reframe the fig tree when I knew she suffered so badly and saw the world in such a negative light
I had never thought about whether men have the same “fig tree” dilemma that feels universal among all women. My guess is, probably not many. Women are fed the narrative that their youth and influence only last until age 30, at which time they wither away from relevance. Thank you for reminding me that my time is not running out, and living my life without an ultimate career focus is not wasting it.
Have you read any of her collected journals? She tends to come back to this point about having one life and knowing that she ultimately has to live it - rather than spending so much energy viewing it subjectively. I think it's really hard to not see all the withering figs not matter what you do.
this is so beautiful and relatable as someone who just turned 25! I love how you mentioned that the tree can always bear more fruit and not every fruit is meant to be picked. It’s a good reminder that life can regenerate and opportunities don’t have to be finite
I truly love and resonate with this so much. The fact that we are considered to be the figs pushes us into the paralysis of being the ending point but never the journey itself. We are the vessels of life and we need to just let life live through us :)
This is so refreshing :) thank you for sharing this and happy (late) 26!
The other day was one of my close friends' birthdays and I got her a set of perfume and lotions (as requested). It took a while to choose the perfect scent, but settled on fig scent. Anyway, I thought of the Sylvia Plath quote, and on my letter to her, I told her something along these lines - that I hope she grabs at every fig she wishes of. I shared this with her - it better encapsulates exactly what I was trying to say.
Beautifully written. So glad I came across this, today.
After reading The Bell Jar I got so stuck on the idea of a life with this singular path and loved your perspective here. Plath's metaphor is so digestible because it feeds into our fears and insecurities but we do not have to give power to that fear!
i read her when i was too young, and had no defenses against her. it took me a long time to realize what you said: 'we do not have to give power to that fear!'
Eurgh yes, feels like such a universal feeling for everyone! But so much strength in knowing life is full of so so many possibilities we don’t even know of 🩷
I love this and couldn't agree more!! One of the best pieces advice I've gotten - you can do everything, but you can't do everything at the same time. Obviously not meant to be taken literally but reminded me that life has seasons and making choices to trying new things and new paths doesn't have to end when I hit thirty. Trees bloom new fruit every spring!
I remember when first read The Bell Jar, the fig tree metaphor haunted me for the longest time. I had never felt more seen, more understood. In fact, I saw it heavily mirrored in my own life. However, it always bought me so much anxiety as it made me constantly ruminate over the life choices that had passed me by. This perspective really changes my outlook and frames it in a much less anxiety inducing way. I look forward to reading more of your posts!
This is a really beautiful piece. The pressure to decide, decide, decide what we want to do with our lives can feel so overwhelming and the pressure to make the right choice before “time runs out” feels so daunting. No life is just one thing and whatever we choose will sprout more “figs” of opportunity, rather than withering all the rest.
This is genuinely amazing, I’m on the younger side (under 20) so I don’t have your experience exactly but I have always agreed with the fig tree metaphor and it filled me with existential dread that I was picking the wrong fig…but you made me think of it in a different light. Thanks so much <33 have a wonderful year
I love this!! I used to think about the fig tree passage like once a day until I remembered that the bell jar is from the perspective of someone who’s struggling with depression and that quote is purposeful in prompting the same feelings of hopelessness that the character is experiencing. For some reason that helped me understand that the fig metaphor is not a universal truth, is not a healthy state of mind, and while it puts a common feeling into words, it’s not the right way to think about the future. I think you capture that reframe so well here! xoxo
Absolutely! You also captured it so well in your comment 🥺 definitely helped me to reframe the fig tree when I knew she suffered so badly and saw the world in such a negative light
your comment perfectly captures a truth that took me too long to figure out.
funnily enough i wrote about that 2 days before and stumbled across this post today
https://substack.com/home/post/p-166319559
I had never thought about whether men have the same “fig tree” dilemma that feels universal among all women. My guess is, probably not many. Women are fed the narrative that their youth and influence only last until age 30, at which time they wither away from relevance. Thank you for reminding me that my time is not running out, and living my life without an ultimate career focus is not wasting it.
Thank you for reading and your comment, means everything ❤️
Have you read any of her collected journals? She tends to come back to this point about having one life and knowing that she ultimately has to live it - rather than spending so much energy viewing it subjectively. I think it's really hard to not see all the withering figs not matter what you do.
this is so beautiful and relatable as someone who just turned 25! I love how you mentioned that the tree can always bear more fruit and not every fruit is meant to be picked. It’s a good reminder that life can regenerate and opportunities don’t have to be finite
Happy 25th!! 🩷🩷 thank you so much for reading and the lovely comment Vanessa xx
We are the tree!
I truly love and resonate with this so much. The fact that we are considered to be the figs pushes us into the paralysis of being the ending point but never the journey itself. We are the vessels of life and we need to just let life live through us :)
This is so refreshing :) thank you for sharing this and happy (late) 26!
Vessels of life 🥺 thank you for reading and the belated birthday wishes
The other day was one of my close friends' birthdays and I got her a set of perfume and lotions (as requested). It took a while to choose the perfect scent, but settled on fig scent. Anyway, I thought of the Sylvia Plath quote, and on my letter to her, I told her something along these lines - that I hope she grabs at every fig she wishes of. I shared this with her - it better encapsulates exactly what I was trying to say.
Beautifully written. So glad I came across this, today.
Oh my gosh, thank for you for reading and this wonderful comment! What a gorgeous gift and sentiment for your friend 🥺🩷
After reading The Bell Jar I got so stuck on the idea of a life with this singular path and loved your perspective here. Plath's metaphor is so digestible because it feeds into our fears and insecurities but we do not have to give power to that fear!
i read her when i was too young, and had no defenses against her. it took me a long time to realize what you said: 'we do not have to give power to that fear!'
https://substack.com/home/post/p-166319559
This new look at the fig tree metaphor is so good! also a bit comforting to read this cuz I feel like I'm running outta time ALL THE TIME
Eurgh yes, feels like such a universal feeling for everyone! But so much strength in knowing life is full of so so many possibilities we don’t even know of 🩷
I love this and couldn't agree more!! One of the best pieces advice I've gotten - you can do everything, but you can't do everything at the same time. Obviously not meant to be taken literally but reminded me that life has seasons and making choices to trying new things and new paths doesn't have to end when I hit thirty. Trees bloom new fruit every spring!
ahh thanks for reading! ❤️
watch me as i share this with everyone I know and bully them into reading it, you're a new fav now<3
ah thank you thank you for stopping by and reading! <3
I remember when first read The Bell Jar, the fig tree metaphor haunted me for the longest time. I had never felt more seen, more understood. In fact, I saw it heavily mirrored in my own life. However, it always bought me so much anxiety as it made me constantly ruminate over the life choices that had passed me by. This perspective really changes my outlook and frames it in a much less anxiety inducing way. I look forward to reading more of your posts!
This is a really beautiful piece. The pressure to decide, decide, decide what we want to do with our lives can feel so overwhelming and the pressure to make the right choice before “time runs out” feels so daunting. No life is just one thing and whatever we choose will sprout more “figs” of opportunity, rather than withering all the rest.
Thank you so much Rashida 🩷🩷
Not to sound dramatic but this made me cry tonight. Thanks for your words. If words could hug then I believe yours do so warmly ❤️
Omg noooo this is never dramatic, but thank you so so much for your kind words and for reading my essay 🥺🥺
it's an interesting perspective, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading!
This is genuinely amazing, I’m on the younger side (under 20) so I don’t have your experience exactly but I have always agreed with the fig tree metaphor and it filled me with existential dread that I was picking the wrong fig…but you made me think of it in a different light. Thanks so much <33 have a wonderful year
Aw thanks for reading! Hope you move with this mindset throughout your 20s ❤️❤️
Love this perspective! 💫
Thank you!! ❤️❤️