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As Timothy P. Jackson, a former professor of Religious Studies at Stanford University put it:
Is this a sad tale? Well, it is sad in the same way that life is depressing. We are all needy, and, if we are lucky and any good, we grow old using others and getting used up. Tears fall in our lives like leaves from a tree. Our finitude is not something to be regretted or despised, however; it is what makes giving (and receiving) possible. The more you blame the boy, the more you have to fault human existence. The more you blame the tree, the more you have to fault the very idea of parenting. Should the tree’s giving be contingent on the boy’s gratitude? If it were, if fathers and mothers waited on reciprocity before caring for their young, then we would all be doomed.
This is certainly the best antidote I’ve ever seen to the ending of The Giving Tree, which I also have always hated. But I still am uncomfortable about giving this book to kids. Darned few adults are mature enough to see this in proportion as Jackson does. I just don’t think kids can deal with this.
In the Same vain… The Life of PI is a great movie, but don’t take the kids. I was expecting an up-lifting story, but the twist just before the end threw me for a loss; I was torn for the rest of the day reconciling fantasy from real life. Then I remembered the actual end and I realized the message was ‘Life is what you make of it’. This may be a bit much for the younger crowd.
“…The more you blame the tree, the more you have to fault the very idea of parenting. Should the tree’s giving be contingent on the boy’s gratitude? If it were, if fathers and mothers waited on reciprocity before caring for their young, then we would all be doomed.?”
Sorry, Number Six but I disagree. It isn’t a “lovely story”… it’s a disappointing, horror story. - The tree gave, and gave, and gave… and the boy may very well not remember those gifts.
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Comments (25) (Please sign in to comment)
Dogsniff
said, 6 months ago
Mind if I sniff those socks before you wash ’em? (I have no idea what the giving tree is)
SusanSunshine
said, 6 months ago
Ha, Dogsniff…. my turn.
It’s a very sentimental children’s book by Shel Silverstein…
One with an ending I’m not crazy about….
So the father either found it very moving and inspirational, as most do….
or tragically sad, as I do.
SusanSunshine
said, 6 months ago
BTW I didn’t know you were an indiscriminate sock sniffer….
What if they’re the kid’s.. or his?
celecca
said, 6 months ago
@SusanSunshine
thank you … I never liked the ending, but thought I was the only one.
Ratbrat said, 6 months ago
It’s a Christmas tree dammit!
J. Short
said, 6 months ago
Cue Peter Gabriel
J. Short
said, 6 months ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDMNCCQwRao
Bailey said, 6 months ago
@celecca
I’m with both of you… and I really enjoy much of Silverstein’s other work. This one really shook me up.
tinachambers said, 6 months ago
As Timothy P. Jackson, a former professor of Religious Studies at Stanford University put it:
Is this a sad tale? Well, it is sad in the same way that life is depressing. We are all needy, and, if we are lucky and any good, we grow old using others and getting used up. Tears fall in our lives like leaves from a tree. Our finitude is not something to be regretted or despised, however; it is what makes giving (and receiving) possible. The more you blame the boy, the more you have to fault human existence. The more you blame the tree, the more you have to fault the very idea of parenting. Should the tree’s giving be contingent on the boy’s gratitude? If it were, if fathers and mothers waited on reciprocity before caring for their young, then we would all be doomed.
missjunebug said, 6 months ago
@tinachambers
Thank you for sharing this
underwriter said, 6 months ago
@tinachambers
This is certainly the best antidote I’ve ever seen to the ending of The Giving Tree, which I also have always hated. But I still am uncomfortable about giving this book to kids. Darned few adults are mature enough to see this in proportion as Jackson does. I just don’t think kids can deal with this.
msowards said, 6 months ago
@underwriter
In the Same vain… The Life of PI is a great movie, but don’t take the kids. I was expecting an up-lifting story, but the twist just before the end threw me for a loss; I was torn for the rest of the day reconciling fantasy from real life. Then I remembered the actual end and I realized the message was ‘Life is what you make of it’. This may be a bit much for the younger crowd.
Number Six said, 6 months ago
Personally I think it’s a lovely story.
The tree serves a purpose to the end and is never forgotten.
Bailey said, 6 months ago
@tinachambers
“…The more you blame the tree, the more you have to fault the very idea of parenting. Should the tree’s giving be contingent on the boy’s gratitude? If it were, if fathers and mothers waited on reciprocity before caring for their young, then we would all be doomed.?”
-
Who the frig’ blames the TREE? Hmmmm?
Who? You?
Bailey said, 6 months ago
@Number Six
Sorry, Number Six but I disagree. It isn’t a “lovely story”… it’s a disappointing, horror story.
-
The tree gave, and gave, and gave… and the boy may very well not remember those gifts.