The Giving Tree question

I think that the moral of the story is that the boy/man who took and took and took his entire life was never satisfied, but the tree who gave everything she had was happy in the end.

The Earth still loves us, even when we kill it with our greed.
It's better to give than to receive.
Happiness demands sacrifice for those we love.
Altruism is the righteous path to salvation.
Even a dead stump has a purpose.
Trees are very useful.

I got two....

1. This is what unconditional motherly love looks like (awww!)

2. This is also what a toxic co-dependent relationship looks like. (yikes!)

it's all in the perspective I guess.

Trees are great! People, not so much.

I never liked it, not as a kid, not now. Ungrateful kid, martyred tree. I like lots of his other stuff.

Give all that you can afford, take only what you need.

The tree gave more than it could afford, the boy took more than he needed. Both based their insensible actions on love, and both suffered the consequences of their poor choices.

Many like to view the tree as representative of parents; unconditional love, martyrish devotion, loyal. The Giving Tree does not glorify the "parent" tree, but instead illustrates the fault in giving to the point of crippling the boy and rendering itself useless. As a child, the boy cannot be blamed for his greed. But as a older boy and man, he is clearly stunted and selfish, for which he is to blame. In the end the loving relationship is sacrificed by the actions claimed to be made out of love.

It's a familiar story.

Give all that you can afford, take only what you need.

I love all the different ways to interpret this book. I think there are many valuable points. Yes you can look at this as an abusive relationship with a "child" that always takes and a "parent" who always gives, however throughout our lives we will often be the giver because it was our choice to do so. Many will also go through selfish periods during our life and then eventually we realize the value of simply spending time with our family. This is beautifully represented at the end of the book when the boy just simply wants to rest with the tree. I hope that if someone doesn't wholeheartedly want to give everything they have to a loved one then they should just say no!

Patty and Linda, I agree. It's a societal problem now. Hated this book, but loved Shel Silverstein's poems.

Worst book ever. Selfish child sucking life out of the parent..parent giving and giving but never enough...until nothing is left. Ugh!! Lesson here is gimme gimme! I know I am in the minority, but this was my reaction the first time I read this book. And my opinion has not changed...:) and I generally really like Shel Silverstein...but this..not so much.

Give and give and give, until it actually removes everything unique and special about you, then give again until you are dead. That is the moral I got out of this book. Oh, and never be appreciated for any of your giving ways. And it will not be reciprocated, not one teeny drop. Just more take take take from the object of your affection. And your giving will be looked upon by sentimental readers as "love" or motherhood, or some kind of nobel sacrifice.

I cannot believe that one reviewer said "even a stump can be useful." Well, yeah, but a stump is first and foremost a DEAD tree. No one wants to be dead as a result of the rigors of love or from the demands of parenting (whether literally dead, or symbolically having a deceased self-identity or dead soul because the other's constant selfish taking just slayed you).

This book makes me think of the sexist notion that women should anihilate their own identities in order to "sacrifice" for their children. It really is dreadful. I wish no children ever were exposed to it. I knew it when I was six years old, when I read this and found it extremely depressing, and I know it even more now.

For better or worse, you have to work with what life brings you. Hope you're not a tree.

put down the seat for ladies when you're done.

Unconditional love exists.

The tree represented a loving parent that willing to give to her child no matter what

It is a metaphor for parenting. No matter how old, you are always a parent. When you are old an worn out, you will be just as happy if your family stops by and just sits with you.

I guess it would be what a friend should be and to what extent it can go

TO ME THE MORAL IS THE BASIC PRINCIPLE OF THE GIVE AND TAKE AND THAT THEIR IS MORE HAPPINESS IN GIVING THAN RECEIVING. AND THAT BY JUST TAKING FROM PEOPLE LEADS YOU TO SELFISHNESS

life is sorrow

True friends give mutually.

The moral I took from it is that when you love someone you're willing to sacrifice for them.

I think this book is about how people often just take from life without giving anything back. Some people take good things that come them for granted, they think others are supposed to be helping them. The Tree is like a loving parent who will do anything to make the kid happy, even it means being unhappy themselves.

I thought it was about respecting nature. I don't know now though... :)

Altruism.

I am so glad to see that other people see the book as I do! I see selfishness and greed from the boy. The tree wants love and gives totally of himself to someone who only takes and takes and takes.

Don't just be a "taker" ! Be both a "giver" and a "taker"!

To me the moral of this books is about giving. In life some people will give and some will take. If you give freely then you can be happy in your gift, even if the last gift is your life.

I have always thought this was a terrible story. Korin talked about it being the form for a toxic co-dependent relationship and that sums up this story perfectly.

I kept waiting for the kid to "get it and he never did. Hated this from the moment I finished it and I won't ever read it again. AND I certainly have never exposed my own kid to it. Can't say enough bad things about The Giving Tree...

not being selfish and not always wanting more

A great lesson in why not to give blindly, and not love a person who is bad for you. Great discussion with my kids about it. They learned what manipulation can look like.

I think it was that be thankful for what you have and don't be selfish.

The Giving Tree has a really great moral to the story. This story is sad, touching, and kind of get's you thinking about what you are grateful for, and if I ever ask for to much. The length of the book is perfect, the layout on how the sentences are broken down keeps you engaged. I would recommend this book to parents to read to children when they want to imply this moral to their kids. I loved the book!

If we give happiness to others, we will end up happy.

No moral for me - just a reminder that life is finite, make of it what you will....

I dedicated this to my daughter, and every time I read it I choke up. Becoming a parent shifted the message I got. Now when I read it I see myself as the tree, never expecting anything in return. Just happy to support my daughter in her quest for self fulfillment.

Great book -- for adults. Not for children.
The tree nor the boy should be emulated. A child may not realize that. As adults, we see the good and bad of the tree's actions, and despise the boy's selfishness. A child may identify with the boy, and think his behavior is appropriate. Or think it's ok to give to someone who doesn't appreciate you until there's nothing of you left and you've sacrificed yourself with nothing in return.
This book is for adults only. Definitely.

Don't be a chump.

Unconditional love.

Relationships may kill you, but if they do, your death is not for nothing.

Most people don't know what they need in order to become happy. You may help them if you do. (The tree tried but it took a while before the boy listened. A while too long, maybe.)

Bad things happen. Find a way to go on, anyway.

If you start something, be sure you either stop before you will be sorry, or don't stop at all.

selfless love

Korin and Sltartt - you both have my vote. When I first read this (while in college) I thought it was unconditional - "I would die for you" - love. My perspective has changed with time.

I thought it was a great book and everyone should read it.

My aunts were just talking about this book. They had always loved it but now were thinking that no one should be that into someone else. I think they are on to something. I always loved it as a child, but I bet very few readers identify with the tree but find it comforting from the kid's POV.

Don't abuse the kindness given to you

most people take kindness for granted
but they are ones who will regret more

父母对孩子的爱是不求回报的。

I hate this book!!! IT IS SO SAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you keep giving without getting anything in return - you'll end up just a stump. If it were a mutual beneficial relationship - the tree would still be a tree...but nooooooooo.....the boy always wanted more.....

This book was about a tree who was happy when the boy was in his presence. As long as the boy was in his presence , even if he was taking from him, the tree was happy. In the end, the boy ended up giving back to the tree by sitting and resting on him, in his presence.
The moral is, the best thing you can offer and give to a loved one is your time.

Sad story.The tree was giving and giving and the kid was so ungrateful!The worst is that the kid turned to the tree only when he needed things and that's what makes me sad.It teaches us altruism in contrast with the cynical world we live in.

We never recognize the people who love us most. We tend to take them for granted.