The Giving Tree

Silverstein, Shel. The Giving Tree. New York: Harper & Row, 1964. Print

Nearly a year after Where the Wild Things Are was published another iconic children’s book came out: The Giving Tree. The giving tree follows the relationship of a young boy and a tree. From the time the boy was little until he is an elderly man the tree and boy have always been in contact. Whenever the boy was in trouble or needed something he would come to the tree. The tree was always ready and willing to provide the boy with whatever it is that he may need. This include things like the tree’s fruit, branches, and bark. The tree doesn’t mind giving up all these things though because it means she is able to see the boy and give him happiness. As the boy transforms into an older man the tree begins to see less and less of him. And at one point the tree is no longer happy to give the boy what he needs. “And the tree was happy…but not really”. In the end the boy once again returns back to the tree and the tree ends up happy as well as the boy. Several arguments have been presented on what the meaning behind this story is and how the visual elements help portray the message or meaning behind the story. First the visual composition of the story takes up the whole page each page. This is to show the dismantling that is taking place to the tree. In the beginning the tree is full and large and by the end of the story the tree is merely a stump.

These visual elements help to convey the message behind the story which is that children do not appreciate their parents. The tree is supposed to represent a parent or guardian figure while the boy is supposed to represent the child who takes and takes from the parent without so much as saying thank you. The lesson or takeaway of this story for kids is to always appreciate your parents because they will give you everything you need and you will still come back to them and ask for more.