here, take my word vomit paragraph about symbolism that i am too tired to refine. This is a small fraction of the essay i am working on about iron lung
A major symbol that we see in the movie is the pendant—of which contains a maple seed. These seeds are planted inside of the dead bodies of Eden members, and the reason why is gruesomely simple. After the quiet rapture, there is no longer any soil- so, their bodies become the soil. This pendant, the one that simon holds so closely to himself- wrapping it tightly around his wrist and not letting go of it a single time within the movie- haunts the narrative. It’s not only a symbol of his inevitable death, but a constant reminder of his past. A seed, something used to represent new beginnings, is now used as a symbol for death. A death tainted by the cult-like ideals of Eden, and their borderline worship of the trees they hope to grow and become. It ties simon down to a past that he doesn’t wish to be connected with, yet cannot bear to separate from- afraid of losing the last thing connecting him to the memory of his mother. This pendant weighs him down, and ties him to his roots- both figuratively and literally. In simon’s hallucinatory sequence where he sees the eye of god, he is unable to escape the blood ocean, tied down by the pendant—the seed inside having grown its roots deep into the blood ocean, rooting simon not only to his past, but his punishment. Rooting him to the reminder of a punishment he did not deserve. Its a reminder, not reminding him that he cant escape eden, but that rather he wont. A brutal tie rooted deep into his past, yet also representing a twisted hope- with this possibly being one of the last seeds, its the symbol of hope for a new beginning- that he may escape. Its a duel ended sword.