Judas Iscariot, the disciple, hanged himself on a tree after betraying Jesus Christ and giving him a kiss. The tree in which Judas hanged himself is known as the "Judas Tree", which is mainly found in southern Europe and western Asia. In the story “Flowering Judas” written by Katherine Anne Porter the title is linked to this religious event of betrayal, murder and denial. The two main characters in this story are Braggioni and Laura. Braggioni is a cruel and powerful leader of Marxist revolutionaries in and around Mexico City. Laura is a beautiful 22 year old American woman who has settled in Mexico. Braggioni, Braggioni's wife, and Eugenio also perform some actions that make them traitors, however Laura is Judas the traitor in “Judas in Bloom”. At first Laura betrays the students she teaches. The students at her school love her and are excited to learn from her teaching. “The children [write] on the blackboard: 'we lov ar ticher'” (Porter 1695). But Laura doesn't put all her effort and passion into her teaching. As Sister Mary Bride stated: “Although she was a teacher, she had no love for the children who crowded around her every morning with fervent greetings and adorned her desk with flowers. They 'remain strangers to her'” (129). A teacher should love his children, be part of them and focus on them. With her lack of enthusiasm and dedication in completing her teaching tasks, she is underestimating herself and failing her students. Furthermore, a young man appears in Laura's life who sings outside her bedroom window, writes poetry to her and follows her. around the city to show her his passionate love. Porter states: “She tells herself that through… middle of the paper… 8.Esplin, Emron. “Magical Realism in ‘Judas in Bloom’ and the Double Reality of Katherine Anne Porter’s Time in Mexico.” Southern Studies 12 1.2 (Spring-Summer 2008): 23-46. Reprinted in Short Story Criticism. Ed. Jelana Krstovic. vol. 108. Detroit: Gale, 2008. 349-59. Gottfried, Leon. “The other realm of death: Dante's and theological symbolism in 'Judas in Bloom'.” PMLA 84.1 (January 1969): 112-24. Reprinted in Short Story Criticism. Ed. Anna Fogli Nesbitt. vol. 31. Detroit: Gale, 1999. 134-42. Porter, Katherine A. "Flowering Judas." The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. vol. D. New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 2007. 1691-00. Print.West, Ray B, Jr. "Katherine Anne Porter: Symbol and Theme in 'Flowering Judas.'" Accent 7 (Spring 1947): 182-88. Reprinted in Short Story Criticism. Ed. Anna Fogli Nesbitt. vol. 31. Detroit: Gale, 1999 124-27.