As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow

As implied by the novel’s title, lemons represent hope and resilience in As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow. The novel opens with an epitaph, a poem that Salama and Kenan paint on their apartment wall in Toronto: “Every lemon will bring forth a child and the lemons will never die out” (247). Lemons and lemon trees, as well as their scent and color, appear often—since lemons are a native fruit, a staple food of Syria. Lemons are used in many recipes and teas and are known to alleviate seasickness. They give Salama and her new family enough strength to survive their shipwreck. Their presence represents the eventual success of the revolution. Even if Salama and others leave, Syria will remain in their hearts: “This is my land, and just like the lemon trees that have been growing here for centuries, spilled blood won’t stop us” (242). When Salama plants a lemon tree in her new garden, she explicitly states it “reminds me that as long as the lemon trees grow, hope will never die” (399). Like the Free Syrian Army and other rebels, these trees symbolize both defiance and tradition. They have been in Syria for centuries, as much a part of the land as long lines of families, making them an apt symbol of revolution—a strong and sturdy one.