<![CDATA[This study aims to describe and analyze the meaning of the lemon symbol in Zoulfa Katouh's As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow using Roland Barthes' semiotic theory. The research employed a qualitative descriptive approach. The data consisted of words, phrases, sentences, and quotations containing the lemon symbol in the novel. Data were collected through library research and note-taking techniques and analyzed using Barthes' three levels of meaning: denotation, connotation, and myth. The findings revealed 14 occurrences of the lemon symbol, of which 13 contained symbolic meanings classified into four categories: scarcity and the suffering caused by war, emotional comfort and recovery, identity and memories of homeland, and hope and the continuity of life. The study concludes that the lemon symbol represents not only a fruit but also the lived experiences of the Syrian people, particularly hope, resilience, and the continuity of life amid armed conflict. These findings offer a new perspective for literary semiotic studies by enriching the interpretation of symbols in contemporary novels.]]>
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