I have mixed feelings about the book. Sometimes I hate the boy and wish the tree would turn him away. But then I think that there are some people who are just so happy to give that they don't care what's taken from them. We're so quick to embrace lifestyles different from our own, especially if the people embracing those lifestyles is being persecuted or doesn't fit into the mainstream. People are so frantic to look tolerant and enlightened. Yet any time people who give themselves completely... except for maybe Mother Theresa.. are mentioned, they are automatically dumb or suckers.
Most of the time, the book just touches me. The tree represents what is older and wiser, and someone who has seen and done enough to take satisfaction in giving of themselves. In essence, the last thing that the boy takes from the tree is simply closeness. His desire to lean on someone (or something, I guess) who had been there for him told me that he was at least on his way to learning something. There are people who will always be there for you, no matter how selfishly you might have acted. I believe that there's strength in this kind of forgiveness and understanding. Ultimately, the tree was patient with this boy as he grew into a completely impatient man, because I think she knew that it was just a part of life.
Generally I'm a practical person who doesn't like to see people get taken. On the other hand, sometimes I wish I had that kind of love in me. Self-preservation and the need to stay on top dominates my mind, and it's hard to imagine being stripped of everything that is mine and still being happy.
