The Giving Tree Book In 2022

Recently, I read the Giving Tree children’s book. It was written by Shel Silverstein in 1964. Over the years many have had their own interpretation of what this book means to them. It had been many moons since I even thought about this book. It did not enter into my recent frame of reference until this week, when an associate reminded me of its continual existence.

She was so passionate about it, that I decided I would read the book again.

This time as a mature woman over the age of fifty, the tone of the book was very different from when I was a teenager.

This time, what I got from the Giving Tree’s story was this.

You cannot love others more than you love yourself.

Some messages are TIMELESS.

I found it interesting that the tree as the ultimate giver is the personification of the feminine nature, and the boy as the ultimate taker personifies the masculine trait of selfishness. Which is quite different from a healthy love of oneself. The masculine trait of selfishness is universal, and does not have anything to do with love. It’s roots are control, manipulation, and domination.

The Tree wanted to be happy, and thought that her happiness was to be found outside of herself. The Tree thought that her happiness was intertwined with the fate of the boy. She felt that her happiness must come through sacrifice and gross exploitation. Which was mistaken for love, and because she was seeking something outside of her own inner resources she had no balance. She gave but never opened herself up to receive. Trees must be nourished just like any other life form in order to live.

In my opinion, the author was trying to show us how a lack of healthy self-love can destroy us, and we never see it happening. Even when we have nothing left to give away, ultimate takers will always find something. Even when there is nothing left for them. And because we yearn for love outside of ourselves, we will gladly make them happy at our own expense. Then deceive ourselves into believing that we are happy too.

That’s just my opinion, of course.😏