Date: June-July 2006
Publication: Current Magazine
Section and Page: Current Diversion, p.51
Publisher: Finserve Corporation, Meralco
It’s not even one of the author’s favorites.
But The Giving Tree turned out to be one of Shel Silverstein’s most controversial and much acclaimed works.
It’s an honest story of two characters, the giver and the taker. “Once there
was a giving tree who loved a little boy”, and because of this the tree willingly provides all the wants and needs of the taker. The giving and taking story continued until both of them grew old and tired.
The simplicity of this parable amazingly aroused so many critics and intrigues. The Giving Tree, although written by a well-known children’s literature writer, had been questioned for its appropriateness to kids making it a book difficult to categorize. Will the young readers acquire the spoiled and demanding traits of the little boy?
On the other hand, it was also subjected to so many interpretations. Does the tree signify maternal love? Is it a feminist book?
But to the author, The Giving Tree was simply about “a relationship between two people; one gives, the other takes”. It is a timeless tale that appeals to the young and old. If you think about it, the depressing impact just echoes the actual human situation of dependency and selfless love.
Go on and flip through the pages of The Giving Tree. Experience visual treats with Silverstein’s amusing signature black and white illustrations. Follow the rhythm of his simplistic yet sophisticated poetry; a language that doesn’t need to intellectualize but so difficult to absorb for its disturbing reality.
It may look like a children’s book, but this modern prodigal son story deals with the immeasurable capacity of love, true happiness from self-sacrificing, and coming back to the arms of those who love you despite of everything.
Read for yourself this unforgettable classic of a discontented boy who lived with temporary material desires until he grew old and empty. On the contrary, there’s the pure and unconditional giving tree who gave everything for love. And oh, the tree was happy.
Many people debated on this book, and a whole lot more people were moved by its story.
And at first they even thought this book would not sell.
But The Giving Tree turned out to be one of Shel Silverstein’s most controversial and much acclaimed works.
It’s an honest story of two characters, the giver and the taker. “Once there
was a giving tree who loved a little boy”, and because of this the tree willingly provides all the wants and needs of the taker. The giving and taking story continued until both of them grew old and tired.The simplicity of this parable amazingly aroused so many critics and intrigues. The Giving Tree, although written by a well-known children’s literature writer, had been questioned for its appropriateness to kids making it a book difficult to categorize. Will the young readers acquire the spoiled and demanding traits of the little boy?
On the other hand, it was also subjected to so many interpretations. Does the tree signify maternal love? Is it a feminist book?
But to the author, The Giving Tree was simply about “a relationship between two people; one gives, the other takes”. It is a timeless tale that appeals to the young and old. If you think about it, the depressing impact just echoes the actual human situation of dependency and selfless love.
Go on and flip through the pages of The Giving Tree. Experience visual treats with Silverstein’s amusing signature black and white illustrations. Follow the rhythm of his simplistic yet sophisticated poetry; a language that doesn’t need to intellectualize but so difficult to absorb for its disturbing reality.
It may look like a children’s book, but this modern prodigal son story deals with the immeasurable capacity of love, true happiness from self-sacrificing, and coming back to the arms of those who love you despite of everything.
Read for yourself this unforgettable classic of a discontented boy who lived with temporary material desires until he grew old and empty. On the contrary, there’s the pure and unconditional giving tree who gave everything for love. And oh, the tree was happy.
Many people debated on this book, and a whole lot more people were moved by its story.
And at first they even thought this book would not sell.
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