Apples, “Appleless”

The apples in “Appleless” symbolize identity and desire. The unnamed girl becomes distinct and alien from the others by refusing to eat apples. This decision unnerves the others, who eat more apples to compensate. This sense of hunger eventually becomes reflected back on the girl herself, and their attentions then drive her away from the community, perhaps permanently.

Red Ribbon Fable, “The Red Ribbon”

In “The Red Ribbon,” red ribbon fable symbolizes the tensions between privacy and intimacy in marriage. In the fable, a wife makes only one demand of her husband, that he never remove the red ribbon from her neck. He is unable to resist his curiosity, and when he unties the ribbon, the woman’s head falls off. Janet sees this fable as representative of the challenges of intimacy and vulnerability in marriage.

Tigers, “Tiger Mending”

The tigers in “Tiger Mending” symbolize...