The Jumbies

Orange trees and orange seeds are important recurring symbols that represent the power of love and the Forming Magic that Nicole passes to Corinne La Mer. The first orange tree appears beside Nicole’s grave. Young Corinne asks Pierre if her mother will bloom after being buried: Corinne thinks she was planted in the ground like a seed. The tree that grows in her place represents Nicole’s presence in Corinne’s life, even if she cannot be there in person. That tree produces the sweetest oranges, which make Corinne famous across the island. They symbolize Corinne’s connection to the forest and jumbies because their sweetness comes from the rich forest soil.

The orange seed symbolizes the magic that Corinne must nurture to fully accept herself and defeat Severine. Both Nicole and the white witch use the phrase “a seed is a promise” (164) to demonstrate how hard work, patience, and belief are necessary for any kind of growth. In this case, Corinne must learn to nurture both her magical talents and her self-acceptance to defeat Severine. More importantly, nurturing Corinne's Forming Magic will help her feel close to her mother. The wall of orange trees she creates around the forest at the novel’s end symbolizes her success in her three main tasks: defeating Severine, accepting her identity, and reconnecting with her mother.