Apple

The apple signifies many things-

• It can be a symbol of health, due to phrases such as "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."
• Nature.
• Swots may give an apple to their teacher in order to show affection, so it can be seen as a symbol of cleverness or sucking up. 
• It may signify getting wet for some people due to the Halloween tradition of apple bobbing.
• A quick search on Google of the word apple will now present searches for the computer giant Apple before the humble fruit..
• It could mean 'The Big Apple', New York City.
• It is frequently used in fairy tales and folklore, such as Snow White, where the apple becomes a symbol of deceit due to it being poisoned by the witch.

But in the Bible it is the ultimate sign of temptation, as Adam and Eve pick it from the forbidden tree.

However the apple can only be a symbol of temptation with a knowledge and understanding of the Bible story itself. Since being raised in the Western world in a predominantly Christian country, we have a clear established connection between the story and the apple, meaning this painting can be easily read, whereas other cultures may view the picture differently, or not understand it at all.
Interestingly enough, the apple is never mentioned in the Bible, instead referred to as a "forbidden fruit." Therefore the fruit could be anything, meaning the apple being a symbol of temptation and downfall may be misplaced.


Now after looking at the apple in this picture, and what it means, let's look at the creature who persuaded them to eat it, the sly, deceitful (in this context) snake.