There is a boy and a tree, and when the boy is very young he always comes to climb the tree, swing in her (the tree is referred to as "she" in the book) branches, and eat her apples. Both of them are happy with this simple relationship and not needing more. As the boy gets older, however, he visits the tree less and less and after a long absence the boy finally goes back to the tree, but claims he is too old to play and asks the tree if she has any money she can give him. She does not, but offers him her apples to sell. Time goes by and again the boy comes back to visit, but is too old to climb the tree or swing in her branches, and again wants something from the tree. She eventually gives him everything, until she is nothing more than a stump. The boy comes back one final time and is happy to simply have a place to sit and rest, and so the tree is finally happy again.
I think, essentially, the underlying message of the story is that sometimes you have to give everything away in order to get something in return. However, I also think that there is a great significance in the fact that Silverstein calls the tree "she". It made me think that the book might have been written to show a mother-son relationship. To the kids, the message is that they should always come back to their kids and that, in the end, money and material objects are not the things that are going to bring you happiness. I also think, however, that there may be a message to the parents in this story. I believe Silverstein is encouraging parents to do everything for their children and, in the end, they will be happy.
What do you think the message might be? Is their a significance in the fact the the tree is a "she" and not a "he"?
I interpreted the story a little differently. I see it as showing the readers that only the young and the old understand what really matters, a simple and immaterialistic life. I do, however, find your interpretation intriguing. There probably is significance to the gender of the tree. First of all, giving the tree a gender at all makes the story more relatible. Second, the caring, giving figure in most people's lives is female - often their mother. Again, making the story more relatible. To respond to your question of messages, I tend to hesitate to assume that any particular message was being sent. On the other hand, as I said before, your interpretation is interesting and the more I think on it, the more valid it seems.
ReplyDeleteThe Giving Tree is one of the saddest book I remember from my childhood. I felt so bad for the tree I think I actually may have teared up when I first read it. The tree, as you said, has literally given up everything for the boy. Throughout the story he keeps on taking and taking until she has nothing left. The tree acts like a mother to the boy, and it think the fact the tree is called "she" definitely reflects that mother son relationship. The message, which I feel is a very sad one, is that a good mother will give up everything for her child's happiness, even if her child leaves and forgets about her and even if she receives nothing in return.
ReplyDeleteHi Q,
ReplyDeleteI picked this post because I already commented on the "American?" one.
My favorite part of this post was the last portion where you delve deeply into the idea of the mother-child relationship. I'd like to see more of that.