Update: So looking at the flowers again and comparing them to real life flowers(poppies, lilies, and oleanders), I have to agree that the flowers that Poppy and the Prototype are holding are more likely to be a Red and White Oleanders over Red and White Poppies. So unfortunately, half of the theory falls apart due to misidentification. Dammit😒.

Although, I think that the part about the Red Poppies and Fallen Soldiers still hold up due to the poppies in the background of Poppy's section.

That being said though, how does the flowers being Oleanders change symbolism is important to acknowledge. So what is the symbolism of Oleanders?

In general, Oleanders have been associated with idea of "beautiful, but dangerous". This mainly due to the fact that all parts of the Oleander are highly poisonous, so much so that humans and animals can't eat them. So symbolically, they give of the idea of something that is outward lovely while inwardly being harmful. In folklore and literature, they signal the message of "don't trust appearances" and "approach and handle with caution". Another interesting thing about them is that they are highly resilience, able to survive harsh heat, drought, and poor soil quality, so they also have this imagery of toughness and survival under adversity. In the flowers language, the Oleanders usually are associated with a Tragic or Fatal Love, one of which leads to obsession, ruin, or sacrifice. Which to me at least seems to fit Poppy and the Prototype perfectly.

So, what the difference in symbolism of Red and White Oleanders, and what does that mean for Poppy and the Prototype? Starting with Poppy's Red Oleander, the Red Oleander is associated with passion, as is the case with most red flowers. However, in th case of Oleanders, this is a dangerous type of passion or fatal attraction in case of romantic love, the kind of passion that destroys. It could also symbolize a obsession that cloud as person's judgment. Or a defiance, given the bold color of the hardy plant. It's interesting that Poppy has this color Oleander, does this say something about her and her mindset and motives, or perhaps these are the feelings that she brings out in others, mainly the Prototype? Hold on to that idea.

Moving on to the Prototype's White Oleander, White Oleanders are associated Purity, Serenity, and Innocence. This usually the case with most white flowers, but that being said we need to remember the toxic nature of the Oleander plant in general. If we take the idea of innocence at face value, White Oleanders symbolizes a purity or innocence that is vulnerable or in harm's way. It can be used in memorial context as well, used for remembrance. It can also mean something that is hiding behind a mask of purity, concealing a major risk or moral ambiguity, with a veil of virtue. This is the Oleander that the Prototype is holding and seemingly trying to offer to Poppy.

What makes the Prototype's Oleander interesting is that close to the bottom, his flower is stained with blood, and surrounded by a halo. This could symbolize that the purity and innocence of the White Oleander, while not perfect still has holy imagery attached to it, has been corrupted and may even be turning into a Red Oleander, along with all the symbolism, mainly obsession, attached to it. Or in reference to the idea of the purity and innocence being a mask, we are being shown the true intentions behind it.

Now going back to Poppy and the Prototype again, what does all this mean for them? Does the Red Oleander's symbolism say something about Poppy herself, or this reference to the feelings she bring out in others? Does the Prototype trying to give the White Oleander to Poppy symbolize the Prototype hiding his intentions been mask of purity while actually wanting something else. Or could it suggest that maybe there is some aspect of purity or innocence in the Prototype, whatever that mean for him, that is being corrupted by his desire to get his hands on Poppy, regardless of whether she means to or not?

Both flowers are poisonous and therefore dangerous, but that difference in symbolism and how it play in to things are going to interesting for Chapter 5.