love apples — Urth Net

James Wynn22 Aug 2003, 02:49original as archived

love apples

↰ answers cilluff1 at optonline.net · by quotation

Marc said:

2 quoted lines

...in Long Sun for those stupid tomatoes that Silk and Maytera Rose have a disgusting battle of wills over. I've always thought that that scene was far more important than I understood ... why else would we talk about slices of food forever?

I have presumed that because the tomato is called "the love apple" from the French "Pommes d'amour", the tomotoes Silk denied her were a metaphor for the love he denied her. Later he regretted it. But I have no confirmation that that is exactly what Wolfe had in mind. Crush

Tami Whitehead22 Aug 2003, 13:05original as archived

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--- James Wynn <crushtv at hotpop.com> wrote: Marc said:

...in Long Sun for those stupid tomatoes that Silk and Maytera Rose have a disgusting battle of wills over. I've always thought that that scene was far more important than I understood ...

why else would we talk about slices of food forever? I have presumed that because the tomato is called "the love apple" from the French "Pommes d'amour", the tomotoes Silk denied her were a metaphor for the love he denied her. Later he regretted it. But I have no confirmation that that is exactly what Wolfe had in mind. Crush

Dunno if it helps, or is relevent, but love apples are also another name for mandrake, intimating its use as an aphrodisiac and in love charms. The fruit of a mandrake is supposed to be superior in these regards to the root, whose virtue is that it lasts longer and can be shaped to resemble the person charmed. The fruit is yellowish, and in shape and scent resembles strawberries. razorkittee