What does the orange and doll symbolize in love-orange by Olive Senior?

The orange and doll are significant symbols in Olive Senior's short story "Love-Orange". Here's what they represent:

1. Orange:

The orange is a symbol of love, desire, and temptation. It represents the forbidden aspects of love, the attraction between the main characters, and their willingness to risk social conventions for the sake of their relationship. The orange also symbolizes the beauty, fragility, and fleeting nature of love.

2. Doll:

The doll symbolizes childhood, innocence, and purity. It represents the main character's longing for a simpler time, before societal expectations and responsibilities constrained her life and her relationship. The doll evokes a sense of nostalgia and the desire to return to a time of carefree love.

By interweaving these symbols throughout the story, Olive Senior explores the complex dynamics of love, desire, and the longing for emotional fulfillment. The orange and the doll serve as tangible representations of the internal conflicts and emotional struggles experienced by the main characters.