Significance of Apples

Billie Jo loves apples. The apple trees, in a good year, produce delicious fruit used to make all kinds of tasty treats. When Louise marries Daddy, she brings a big bunch of apples into the house and puts them in a bowl. It symbolizes that there is a mother in the house again, because Ma used to do that. Louise places the bowl of apples on a shelf by the piano, opposite the shelf where Ma's book of poetry is kept. She acknowledges by this action that she is equal with Ma, but not intending to try to replace Ma.