The Giving Tree Poem Analysis

As the old saying goes, “Giving is better than receiving.” In Shel Silverstein’s, The Giving Tree, there were many different interpreted meanings that most would look past without proper analyzation. I believe that this famous poem has more in-depth meanings other than just the concept of giving and receiving, and that we should take into account the various messages the author could have portrayed with this impactful piece of poetry. “Focus more on what you need than what you want,” is a very important concept in this poem. As the piece states, the boy is constantly asking the tree for things he desires, but in the end he eventually comes back to the tree asking for more. He often approaches the tree time after time sounding unhappy and unsatisfied. “...I'm sorry,’ said the tree, ‘but I have no money…’I want a house to keep me warm,’ he said. ‘I want a wife and I want children, and so I need a house...” The boy used to be happy with the tree as a child, swinging from her branches and eating her apples, but as he grew older, he lost interest in her and eventually lost happiness as well. Towards the end of the poem, the boy realizes he doesn’t need much but silence and rest and not material goods. “...‘I don't need very much now,’ said the boy. ‘just a quiet
The boy used to play with the tree all the time as an adolescent, but as he grew into adulthood, he didn’t value the Giving Tree as much as he used to. The boy often left the tree sad and alone without realizing the tree needed happiness for itself as well. “...And so the boy cut down her trunk and made a boat and sailed away. And the tree was happy ... but not really…” No matter how many times the tree asked the boy to play with her, he always declined and left her alone. The tree was implying that she needed someone to keep her company, and no matter how many times she attempted to express that need, the boy only thought of