Coffee Or Death - Blog Posts

The theory of Coffee and the Apple of Eden.

So about the blue cup of coffee. I think it is symbolically the opposite of the Apple of Eden. Adam and Eve were innocent, having tasted the apple, they knew the earthly and had to go to Earth. Aziraphale, on the contrary, has lived on Earth for a long time and Metatron gives him (tempts) a "heavenly" drink. Some sources indicate that ambrosia (the drink of paradise or the drink of the gods) was nine times sweeter than honey. Therefore, Metatron deceives Aziraphale by claiming that there is a huge amount of almond syrup in the drink, he means that he gives Aziraphale ambrosia. At the same time, like an apple, this drink carries a particle of deception on the part of the one who gives it; it is given with bad intentions.

If we develop this idea further, then in this situation Aziraphale symbolically represents Eve, Metatron is the tempter snake, Crowley is Adam, and the bookshop is paradise. But this time Adam (Crowley) did not accept the temptation from his Eve. And Eve leaves their paradise alone.

In general, my theory is that a cup of coffee is an apple of Eden, but with the opposite meaning. The apple is sin, disobedience, knowledge of good and evil. And coffee in this case is obedience, giving up free will and following God's plan without thinking about whether it's good or bad.

Another theory about Maggie and Nina, plus a theory about coffee and death and a lot of symbolism.

Theory One (Maggie and Nina)

Nina and Maggie can symbolize the two sides of Aziraphale and Crowley's relationship. Maggie (this name means pearl, it is a symbol of hidden treasure and purity) this is the best thing about their relationship. It's their love for each other, for music and for the bookshope. This is confirmed by the jewelry on Maggie's neck (heart, snake and ring). This relationship is timid and it's hidden, like Maggie herself. Nina is the side of the relationship that is visible "on the surface". Nina is a responsible person, but she looks annoyed, a little rude, closed, distrustful. She is disappointed in her past relationships, which were toxic and there was no love in them. I will also note that Nina is active, she wants to sell her goods to people. Maggie's main theme is music, retro and love. For Nina, it seems to me, this is freedom (there are several statues of liberty in her cafe, one of which stands right on the counter). Including freedom of choice.

Theory two (choice, coffee and death)

So. In symbolism, coffee means awakening, awareness and life force. The torch of the Statue of Liberty means enlightenment, knowledge and optimism about the future. First. Nina offers a choice of coffee or death. In other words, to be alive or to be dead, to wake up or to sleep. Secondly. The hand of death is depicted on the wall, holding out a cup of coffee, like the Statue of Liberty holds out its torch. I can make the assumption that if you choose death, you will still get something. Once again, you make a choice to take a drink from Freedom or from Death. Nina said that no one had ever made such a choice, to which Metatron replied - people are so predictable.

What can death offer? In symbolism, she separates (with her scythe) body and soul, and irrevocable changes occur after her actions.

The third theory (choice without choice or something else)

So. Metatron brings Aziraphale coffee. The coffee was obtained from Nina, who symbolizes the dark side of the relationship between Azi and the Cro, a pinch of almond syrup was added to this cafe - it is what was good in this relationship (Maggie brought the ingredients to the coffee). So this drink is a concentrated version of their relationship. Next, Metatron is lying, claiming that he added a huge amount of almonds to the drink. Almonds in the symbolism of Christianity mean divine favor and hidden truth. Aziraphale asks if he should drink it. Metatron says literally: "Of course, I ingested things in my time, you know". I suppose he also refused something or made a difficult compromise (perhaps for the sake of his high position). Next, a conversation takes place in which Metatron, with the help of manipulation and cunning, compels Aziraphale to accept his offer. Of course, the coffee wasn't literally poisoned. The poison was in his words and intentions. I clarify, Aziraphale still did not make his choice of "coffee or death" when he took a drink from Metatron. And also when he talked to Metatron. At the same time, an equally important conversation takes place between Crowley and the girls. Both Aziraphale and Crowley are confused, events have gained momentum too quickly. There is a climactic conversation at the end of which there is actually (almost) nothing new for them. They always abruptly end the conversation by being rude to each other as soon as the conversation gets a little heated. But this time, fate has put Aziraphale in front of a choice for which there will be no turning back. It is now that Aziraphale is making his choice. Between love and death, he chooses death. When Aziraphale goes up in the elevator, you can see that his face is painfully changing, like his face is cramping up. This effect is highlighted by flashes of light. I explain this by the fact his soul and love remained on Earth (death separated his soul), and he dies - that is, irrevocably changes. Most likely, Maggie also received "death", since we see that she fell asleep in her little back room (of the bookstore).