Apple | once-upon-a-time

The Apple

Click the picture above to learn about the Dark Curse

Video 2: Henry tries to stop Emma from eating the Apple Turnover because it is poisonous.

Video 1: The Evil Queen tempts Snow White with an Apple.

Figure 2: Mayor Mills gathering apples

from her apple tree.

Figure 3: Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

A very prominent symbol expressed throughout almost the entire first season of Once Upon a Time is an apple. This apple was poisoned by the Evil Queen to try to end Snow White's life in the Enchanted Forest by tempting her to eat it, promising her Prince would not get harmed in return - refer to video 1. In Storybrooke, Regina Mills makes several references to apples. Whether it be her apple tree in her backyard or a glass of apple cider. Towards the end of season one, Regina makes an apple flip for Emma Swan as a parting gift; the apple used is also poisonous - refer to video 2.

Figure 1: The Forbidden Fruit

This idea parallels with a very well-known story from the first book of the Bible - Genesis. In the story, Adam and Eve are in the Garden of Eden, surrounded by animals and many trees. They are warned by God, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die”- Genesis 2:16-17. This tree contains the forbidden fruit. Although the Bible doesn't actually state that the forbidden fruit was an apple, through legend, it has been assumed it was an apple. Both Adam and Eve had no intentions on disobeying God, until they were confronted by a serpent who tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” - Genesis 3:4-5. After hearing that the fruit of this tree will cause no harm and give them wisdom, Eve eats the fruit and shares with Adam.

In both cases, the apples have been used as a weapon by a form of evil. Both the serpent and the Evil Queen/Regina, are "willing to deceive, poison, and destroy the innocent for [their] own selfish ends".

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." - 1 John 3:16