Lime (Afterward)

The lime tree, also known as linden is a tree that is part of the Malvaceae family. It is a tree that is popular among bees because they like the honey of the flowers that the tree has. Therefore, it is quite common to see beekeepers that cultivate these trees for their honey production (Myers). The wood of this tree is nowadays often used for musical instruments, carvings, toys, and for the frames of pictures (Brottrager).

In Europe, the tree was often planted next to inns or in the center of the village. The center of the village was therefore often a kind of gathering place for the people. The tree is connected to peace, happiness, and calmness. In addition to that, it is said that Limes offer consolation and safety, which is linked to the idea that the lime tree also protects against lightning bolts (Brottrager). Probably one of the most well-known places where linden have been planted is the boulevard “Unter den Linden” in Berlin, the capital of Germany. The original trees there were around 400 years old when they were replaced by new ones (DreamingWood).

In Edith Wharton’s “Afterward” the lime tree is mentioned four times. Twice in chapter one, once in chapter three and one more time in chapter five. The mentioning in chapter five is rather irrelevant because it is just Mary remembering the lime-avenue as she had seen it in chapter one (Wharton 372). In chapter one, the lime-avenue is mentioned in October, as Mary and Edward Boyne are on Lyng’s roof (Wharton 348). In chapter three the limes are mentioned again and described as bare, naturally because chapter three takes place in December (Wharton 359). In October, chapter one, the limes still have their lives, while in December, chapter three, they are completely bare. This is important because the lime is a tree that embodies protection and warding against evil. However, by describing it as bare, one might get the impression that the tree is dead and therefore its protection is not functioning. Fittingly, chapter three is the chapter in which Edward Boyne leaves Lyng with Bob Elwell.

• Brottrager, Irmgard. “Der Linden-Baum: Wesen & spirituelle Bedeutung”. Everyday Feng Shui. Everyday Feng Shui Berlin. 15. June. 2019. https://www.everyday-feng-shui.de/wesen-und-bedeutung-des-linden-baumes/

• DreamingWood. “Linden Lore”. The Dreaming Wood ~ paganism-natural history-witchcraft. WordPress.com 15. June. 2019. https://thedreamingwood.wordpress.com/2012/07/01/linden-lore/

• Myers, Vanessa Richins. “Meet 10 Species of Linden Trees”. The Spruce. Dotdash publishing family. 09. February. 2019. 15. June. 2019. https://www.thespruce.com/meet-ten-species-of-linden-trees-3269657

• Wharton, Edith. "Afterward". The Muse's Tragedy and Other Stories . Ed. Candace Waid. London: Penguin Books, 1992. 342-373. Print.

• Image 1: Lime tree: http://www.mauthausen.info/images/marbacherlinde.jpg (Retrieved 15/06/2019)