What is the symbolic meaning of the fruit that grew from the wife’s body? ✪✪✪

Symbolism means using an object, image, or action to express a deeper idea or hidden meaning. In Han Kang’s (1970–Present) short story “The Fruit of My Woman” (1997), the fruit that grows from the wife’s body is the most powerful symbol in the story. It carries the meaning of rebirth, continuation, and transformation. The fruit shows that life does not end with death. Life changes its form and begins again through nature.

Symbol of Rebirth – Life After Death: When the wife’s human form disappears, her lips split open, and fruits appear. The husband sees,

“Her lips…… split open, releasing a handful of fruit.”

This moment shows that her death is not destruction. From her dry body comes new life. The fruit grows where her human self ends. It becomes a symbol of rebirth. Her spirit continues through seeds and plants.

Symbol of Continuity – Love That Remains: After she changes fully into a plant, the husband gently collects the fruits. He plants them in small pots beside her dried body. He says,

“I lined the small flowerpots up next to that of my withered wife.”

This act shows his love and his wish to keep her alive. The fruits carry her memory and identity. They connect her to the world again. Through them, her presence spreads beyond the balcony, beyond her death.

Symbol of Transformation – From Human to Nature: The fruit joins human and natural life together. It grows from her human lips yet belongs to the soil. It shows her full transformation into nature. The bitter taste of the fruit also means that change is painful, but still meaningful.

In the end, the fruit stands for the wife’s eternal life. It is not only a sign of her death, it is the promise of a new beginning. It is a cycle where love, nature, and life never end.