The Giving Tree

Silverstein, Shel. The Giving Tree: Illustrated by Shel Silverstein. Harper & Row, 1964. 64 pages.

The Giving Tree exposed the evolution of a person’s personality as they develop from a child into an adult. The story gave insight into the relationship between the female giving tree and the boy. During adolescence, the boy spent most of his childhood playing with the tree, hanging off her branches and devouring her apples. As the boy grows, he stops visiting the tree and only comes to her when he is in need of something. During adolescence, the boy asks for money and the tree offers her apples to sell. During adulthood, the boy asks for a house and the tree offers her branches. During retirement, the boy asks for a boat and the tree offers her stump. During the final stage of his life, the boy visits the tree one last time. The tree reluctantly tells the boy that she has nothing left to offer, seeing as she had given up everything for him. His final request is a place to sit and relax and the tree happily obliges. The book offered insight into the love that one individual may have for another, even if that love is exploited.

Once there was a tree, and she loved a little boy.

Unlike most children’s books, The Giving Tree was illustrated in black and white. The most logical reason behind the option to make the illustrations as simple as a possible was to have the main focus remain on the meaning of the text. While the illustrations are fairly simple, the reader can identify the livelihood of the tree. Not only did the tree speak and exude emotions, but she also embraced the boy numerous times throughout the illustrations. The fine line technique used in the drawings did help to identify the aging of both the boy and the tree. While the illustrations did remain fairly dull, the simplicity helped to mainly shift focus onto the text.

Shel Silverstein’s creation holds a great deal of philosophical meaning. The story exemplifies how human nature can be corrupted over time. The reader is originally introduced to the innocent love that is shared between the tree and the boy. However, as the boy enters into the world of reality and hardship, so does his conscience. The boy soon begins to exploit the tree and takes advantage of all that she is willing to give. His minimal appreciation is very similar to that of which the reader views in society today. While love is everlasting, like that of which the tree had for the boy, it may be distorted over time.