The Warsaw Orphan

The apple tree in the courtyard stands as the novel’s most enduring symbol, representing nature’s persistence and the indestructible power of hope across the devastating trajectory of war. This tree, which predates the characters’ arrival and survives Warsaw’s complete destruction, embodies the theme of endurance through cycles of violence and renewal. When Emilia discovers that “one half of it [i]s healthy branches covered in fresh, new growth and pretty white blossoms,” while “the other half [i]s singed, but even so, green buds [a]re emerging here and there” (324-25), Rimmer illustrates how life persists even after profound damage. The tree’s symbolic power reaches its peak when Emilia unearths Matylda’s carefully preserved records from beneath its roots—the glass jar contains the identities and placements of over 2,500 rescued Jewish children. This discovery transforms the tree from a symbol of mere survival into one of profound hope. The tree’s protection of these vital documents demonstrates how Memory as a Form of Resistance can be preserved even when everything else is destroyed. Sara’s decision to bury the records there, trusting in the tree’s permanence, proves prophetic when the surrounding buildings crumble but the tree endures. Through this powerful symbol, Rimmer suggests that while human institutions may fail and cities may fall, certain forces—nature, memory, love—possess an essential durability that outlasts even the most systematic attempts at destruction.