Gardening Quote by John Updike
““Ever since, two summers ago, Joe Marino had begun to come into her bed, a preposterous fecundity had overtaken the staked plans, out in the side garden where the southwestern sun slanted in through the line of willows each long afternoon. The crooked little tomato branches, pulpy and pale as if made of cheap green paper, broke under the weight of so much fruit; there was something frantic in such fertility, a crying-out like that of children frantic to please. Of plants, tomatoes seemed the most human, eager and fragile and prone to rot. Picking the watery orange-red orbs, Alexandra felt she was cupping a giant lover’s testicles in her hand.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Rabbit, Run by John Updike, 1960
A vivid description of overwhelming fertility and sensuality, using tomatoes as a metaphor for desire and vulnerability.
In simple terms: Intense sensuality and fertility.
Key Takeaway
Embrace desire, accept fragility.
Themes
desire
fertility
vulnerability
nature
sensuality
Mood
passionate
intimate
reflective
Type
literary
descriptive
When to use this quote
- garden harvest
- intimate moments
- creative inspiration
Key Concepts
Metaphor
symbolism
bodily imagery
Questions to Reflect On
- How does nature reflect human longing?
- What does the tomato symbolize?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may obscure the literal meaning for some readers.
