![To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Shel Silverstein's classic book, The Giving Tree, let's take a look at a few lesser-known facts about that ever-giving tree.
1. The tree is for me.
The giving tree gives up her apples, her branches, her trunk, then finally offers her stump to the boy she loves so much. Mary Ann Glendon, the Learned Professor of Law at Harvard University, sees the book as "a nursery tale for the 'me' generation, a primer of narcissism, a catechism of exploitation."[1] The boy, like any proper member of the me generation, is selfish and self-involved. He tells the tree: "I want some money." "I want a house." "I want a boat." He takes what he wants from the tree, focusing only on his own self-fulfillment.
2. The tree is your mom.
Some argue that the tree represents Mother Nature or God's love. Writer and children's book editor Lisa Rowe Faustino argues that the tree is, in fact, the perfect, ever-loving, always-giving mom. "Not only does the tree give literally everything she has," Faustino says, "but she is also ever present: rooted in one place, the quintessential stay-at-home mother…"[2] Yes, the stay-at-home mom who lets you chop off her arms.
3. The tree is neurotic.
Several early editors dismissed Silverstein's book as inappropriate. Some said it was too sad, others said it just wasn't right for kids…or adults. Maybe it was the constant giving. Maybe it was the constant nagging to happy. Or, maybe, it was the arm-chopping. One editor even told Silverstein, "That tree is sick! Neurotic!"[3]
4. The tree is a movie star.
The tree appeared in a 1973 animated film:
The Giving Tree Movie
We enjoyed the 1973 film, but we are looking forward to this release:
The Giving Tree Movie Trailer
5. You be the tree.
In 2010, Ryan Gosling had an interview with New York Magazine that got right to the heart of the book: "That book is so f**ked up," Gosling said. "That story's the worst. I mean, at the end the tree is a stump and the old guy just sitting on him; he's just used him to death, and you're supposed to want to be the tree? F**k you. You be the tree. I don't want to be the tree."[4]
So, there you have it. The tree that keeps on giving is either you, your mom, or a neurotic movie star. Happy 50th!
Check out these links:
[1] http://www.firstthings.com/article/2008/08/002-the-giving-tree-a-symposium
[2] http://bookcandy.typepad.com/files/the-giving-tree-faustino.pdf
[3] http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/books/review/the-childrens-authors-who-broke-the-rules.html?_r=0
[4] http://www.vulture.com/2010/05/ryan_gosling_on_blue_valentine.html](https://img.youtube.com/vi/1TZCP6OqRlE/mqdefault.jpg)
View this video on YouTube
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Shel Silverstein's classic book, The Giving Tree, let's take a look at a few lesser-known facts about that ever-giving tree.
1. The tree is for me.
The giving tree gives up her apples, her branches, her trunk, then finally offers her stump to the boy she loves so much. Mary Ann Glendon, the Learned Professor of Law at Harvard University, sees the book as "a nursery tale for the 'me' generation, a primer of narcissism, a catechism of exploitation."[1] The boy, like any proper member of the me generation, is selfish and self-involved. He tells the tree: "I want some money." "I want a house." "I want a boat." He takes what he wants from the tree, focusing only on his own self-fulfillment.
2. The tree is your mom.
Some argue that the tree represents Mother Nature or God's love. Writer and children's book editor Lisa Rowe Faustino argues that the tree is, in fact, the perfect, ever-loving, always-giving mom. "Not only does the tree give literally everything she has," Faustino says, "but she is also ever present: rooted in one place, the quintessential stay-at-home mother…"[2] Yes, the stay-at-home mom who lets you chop off her arms.
3. The tree is neurotic.
Several early editors dismissed Silverstein's book as inappropriate. Some said it was too sad, others said it just wasn't right for kids…or adults. Maybe it was the constant giving. Maybe it was the constant nagging to happy. Or, maybe, it was the arm-chopping. One editor even told Silverstein, "That tree is sick! Neurotic!"[3]
4. The tree is a movie star.
The tree appeared in a 1973 animated film:
We enjoyed the 1973 film, but we are looking forward to this release:
5. You be the tree.
In 2010, Ryan Gosling had an interview with New York Magazine that got right to the heart of the book: "That book is so f**ked up," Gosling said. "That story's the worst. I mean, at the end the tree is a stump and the old guy just sitting on him; he's just used him to death, and you're supposed to want to be the tree? F**k you. You be the tree. I don't want to be the tree."[4]
So, there you have it. The tree that keeps on giving is either you, your mom, or a neurotic movie star. Happy 50th!
Check out these links:
[1] http://www.firstthings.com/article/2008/08/002-the-giving-tree-a-symposium
[2] http://bookcandy.typepad.com/files/the-giving-tree-faustino.pdf
[3] http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/books/review/the-childrens-authors-who-broke-the-rules.html?_r=0
[4] http://www.vulture.com/2010/05/ryan_gosling_on_blue_valentine.html
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