What is "The Giving Tree" about?

[citizen k]

Shush you.

Better tell me what you think of my interpretation (as edited).

It's clever, but you have to work in a reason why the "tree" keeps being happy with each 'taking'.

Because it is infinite and it is in its nature to provide. It is the Holy Grail, and its nature is to nourish.

Look at Marty getting all Joseph Campbell on us.

[Martinus]

 

[Jaron]

I'm stumped.

[mongers]

By coincidence on the way home this evening, I walked past a stray apple tree and for some odd reason it still had a pretty good crop of apples on it, in December! 

Was it 'telling' me something?

[Jacob]

I reckon it's a metaphor for parenting.

[Malthus]

Given that it's ostensibly a children's book, and that typically those are bought by parents, I assume that the intention is to instill a decent sense of guilt into the little bastards. 

'See? You are nothing but a greedy little parasite that takes and takes and gives nothing in return. But we parents are happy about that, because we are selfless - why, you could take my very body, and I'd just be happy about it'. 

[Siege]

Here is a text of The Giving Tree, without illustrations, for those who have never read it:  http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/35C1809B-B30D-450E-AE7C-1F399C7CA5AF/155278/TheGivingTreePoem.pdf

I came across this Wikipedia article the other day, and wondered what people took out of "The Giving Tree."

Thank you. It was beautiful.

[Jacob]

Given that it's ostensibly a children's book, and that typically those are bought by parents, I assume that the intention is to instill a decent sense of guilt into the little bastards. 

'See? You are nothing but a greedy little parasite that takes and takes and gives nothing in return. But we parents are happy about that, because we are selfless - why, you could take my very body, and I'd just be happy about it'. 

Well, that's Shel Silverstein for you... he never was one for saccharine sentiment

[The Brain]

Nice text.

[Jacob]

More Shel Silverstein poetry for children:

[frunk]

More Shel Silverstein poetry for children:

Or if you prefer here's Silverstein reading it.

[katmai]

It is about a tree that gives, sheesh why do you people have to find any other meaning to it.

[lustindarkness]

I don't remember ever hearing about this.

[Jaron]

It is about a tree that gives, sheesh why do you people have to find any other meaning to it.

[Valmy]

My Dad made fun of this book so much reading it to me as a kid that I find it hard to take seriously now.