The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath has been a must-read assigned throughout all school years. I forgot about it after reading it years ago, but one of my friends recently reminded me. She asked completely out of nowhere, “Do you know the fig tree analogy”? I was confused because I hadn’t remembered it ever being mentioned in the story. She explained that Sylvia Plath’s character in The Bell Jar saw her life like a fig tree with ripe, juicy figs hanging off different branches. She’s sitting in the middle of the tree looking at all of her different options. But the longer she waits, the more figs rot and fall to the floor, making them impossible for her to pick. Each branch represents a different life path and future; because of her indecisiveness, she can’t pick just one. The longer she takes to pick which one she wants to pursue, the fewer opportunities she has to pick from. Leaving her starving at the bottom of the tree.
I thought the idea was fascinating but also such a depressing prospect. I started to question whether I had picked any figs off my own tree. If any opportunities for things I wanted in life had already rotted and fallen off. I started to ask the people around me if they had picked the figs they wanted off their own trees. One of them was carrying at least ten figs in his hands, while thinking he wasn’t working hard enough, still waiting to pick more. College is all about discovering the different figs within arm’s reach, but what if you stop yourself from grabbing one?
The friend who reminded me of this analogy explained to me that she believes she hasn’t grabbed any figs at all. Though she reiterated that she won’t let any rot before she can grab them, the decision of which one to grab first is so daunting. I want to think that I’ve grabbed at least one fig so far in my life, but I have so many more hanging in front of my face. It’s such a privilege to have so many opportunities in front of us in the first place, but what if grabbing one fig means letting another fall?
Limiting yourself to a family and children while letting go of a career stops you from grabbing the second fig on your tree that’s about to fall. Choosing a career that makes money rather than shooting for the stars leaves part of your tree to wither. Holding too many figs at once could actually be the opening you were looking for.
Keeping this analogy in the back of your mind throughout college and growing up can help you realize the importance of the opportunities in front of all of us now. Don’t let them slip through your fingers while you’re still able to pick them from your tree.