and the tree was happy..

The Giving Tree is a childrens book written by Shel Silverstein. The first edition was published in 1963. The book tells the story of young boy and a tree in a forest. The tree always provides the boy with what he needs. Branches to swing from, shade, apples, and branches with which to build a home. As the boy grows older he requires more and more of the tree. The tree loves the boy and gives him anything he asks for.

The book has always been a favorite of mine however, at some point it dawned on me that the tree was actually quite enabling.


1973 film adaptation of The Giving Tree

I suppose the story could be interpreted in different ways. On the one hand I can see how the tree was willing to love the boy without expectation of anything in return. I think that is a grand lesson. However, it seems that although the tree was selfless the boy was not. The boy did not reciprocate love. It seemed that the boy was content to use the tree and take all he could and the tree was willing to give up everything.

As I was looking up information on this tale I came across some incredible artwork. Several Giving Tree themed tattoos.


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I can only wonder what it is the book means to these individuals and how it has impacted their lives.

I decided to visit Amazon.com and look up the Giving Tree to see what opinions I might find there. Currently out of the 666 customer reviews, 480 gave four stars and 93 gave one. I read some of the one star reviews and many had the same notion that the tree was actually enabling. Some even labeled the tree "the co-dependent tree."

I'd be curious to know how Shel Silverstein meant the book to be viewed. The story gives off a melancholy feeling and it is difficult for me to imagine that most do not get a sense of it when reading this book.

I can only ask myself if perhaps Silverstein wrote the book as a cautionary tale. Perhaps his intent was to offer an example of selfless love and an example of selfishness. Even so the selflessness of the tree is disappointing as she does not seem to mind the disrespect of the boy. I think there is a distinct difference between selfless giving without the expectation of reciprocation and allowing one to walk all over them.

I think there are aspects of the book that can be learned from however, I feel the book doesn't quite hit the mark.