The Giving Tree question

I read it as a child and realized I was too much like the boy and should be more like the tree or at least be more grateful for all the wonderful and useful things I had because of other people and the earth.

I don't know how anyone could read it and be like "ya I'll be like the boy and just take take take" or "I'll be like the tree and give to selfish people until it kills me" Kids aren't that dumb.

It's a great book and the first one that I remember that made me feel a strong feeling of empathy and keen awareness of a need to improve myself.

It was read to me in 4th grade. My thought was "I don't want to be either of these characters."

I kind of hate this book. I believe it represents parent and child. The child loved the tree who supported him and was always around the tree when he was young. When he grew up he only talked to it when he needed a favor.

However, I feel the whole thing was kind of offense to children, assuming that they will never talk to their parents to just talk. Teacher would always read it aloud in school and children love it. I just find that kind of creepy.

I think is a metaphor of the parent/child relationship. That being a parent is always giving. Even when you should have stop your are always giving of your self and you should expect nothing in return. I do not think this accurately reflects all parent/child relationships, but when you continue to take without giving in return you most likely end up unhappy.

Here's the missing last page of The Giving Tree:

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In a cynical way, I think it's about the greed of man. I know that most people want to interpret it as true parental love, but honestly, I think that the boy was too deluded and selfish to realize that he had a wonderful life right there with the tree.

I think it says something about how people take advantage of the kind, but I wouldn't go quite that far. I can see that the Giving Tree really is a good, maternal character, but her boy moves away and becomes more distant and wanting. He has some subconscious attachment to the tree, so he assumes that he can get all of his help from her. But I haven't studied psychology (yet) so I can't honestly say that that's quite it.

Still, it's a very sad story. I feel sorry for the tree. That kid was going to run himself into the ground anyway, with or without the help of a loving mother-figure.

This book, I conclude, makes me angry and sad at the same time.

Lividly furious.

Very, very sad.

I think just because someone loves you doesn't mean you should take advantage of it for selfish purposes. And just because you love someone doesn't mean you should give everything up just for them. In the end you would both be unhappy.