What's the Fig Idea?

Examine the environment around you. What do you see? Lift an ear to your surroundings. What do you hear? Take a healthy whiff of the air. What do you smell? Almost every person will have a different answer for each question. However, every response has one characteristic in common. Let’s say you see the oak tree outside your window shedding leaves in the autumn air. Your initial reaction to that observation might be, “Ugh, more leaves to rake out of the yard.” Nevertheless, study the leaves a little closer. Now you might notice that the leaves add a beautiful shade of orange, yellow, and brown to the once dull, green grass. When we isolate objects and events aside from our immediate reactions, we feel a sort of charm or attraction to that focal point. Marcus Aurelius’ work Meditations provides readers with numerous relatable illustrations of this natural phenomenon.

Aurelius supplies one example of the charm of individual, natural occurrences through his model of baking bread. He states, “The loaf splits open here and there, and those very cracks, in one way a failure of the baker’s profession, somehow catch the eye and give particular stimulus to our appetite” (16). Aurelius gives a perfect paradigm of this incident by appealing to the appetitive desire that every human experiences. Even though we do not often bake bread, we are certainly familiar with other types of baking, such as those of cakes and brownies. Likewise, cracks in cakes and brownies are a symbol of a chef’s deficiency. However, the ever-so-subtle peak of the chocolate layers underneath the icing accompanied by the sugary, sweet smell seems enough to arouse even the most self-disciplined individual. Aurelius provides other representations of this phenomenon.

Aurelius presents another illustration of the pleasure of singular, incidental observations through his various examples of ripened fruits. He describes how figs “burst open at full maturity,” as well as how the ripened, decayed olives are considered beautiful (16). These instances accurately describe the phenomenon because they solicit the attention of our most trusted, yet least trustworthy, sense of perception, sight. If you know anything about figs, or if you have ever tried to grow them, you know the cracking of their shells is frustrating when the fruits are not ready. However, it gives you a glimpse into what the fully ripened fruits will resemble. Now your thoughts consist of fig newtons, fig pies, and fig muffins. Similarly, olives are best when they are fully ripened. You should pick olives in their last stage of growth when they are dark green or purple. They may not look as tasty as the bright greens of the growing olives, but they are sure to satisfy your taste buds. Set aside your initial reaction to the unsightly colors of the ripened olive or the unpleasant nature of the cracked fig and focus your attention on the particulars that lead to the positive outcome.

Through Aurelius’ examples of the bread, fig, and olive, the phenomenon of natural, isolated observations can be easily identified. Objects and events are not always what they initially appear to be. Another aspect of this phenomenon seems to say that you should always look for the positive rather than the negative in everything you see, hear, smell, or even touch. For instance, maybe you should not view this essay as another text to read. Try looking at it as a learning experience. Even if you do not agree with what I said, you are still familiarized with the concept and Aurelius’ examples. Try this approach in everything you do, and I promise your life will be more fulfilled.