All of Melinda’s peers are mean to her because she called the cops at the summer party but they don’t actually know that she was raped. If they had known, they wouldn’t have been mean to her and could’ve even helped her. This theme relates to the quote because everyone tree has flaws just like everyone has flaws and you can’t judge people for their flaws if you don’t why they have them. As previously mentioned, this quote helps Melinda learn to accept that she is the tree, that she has scars and isn’t perfect but its ok. A quote which proves this is when Melinda cleans up her backyard and plants a new seed.
Jeanette grows up living and being pushed around by her parents. Understanding her perspective of her childhood helps us compare that not all children are raised the same. She grew up poor and on the run from whatever trouble her dad got them into. She did not grow up rich or middle class. The lesson taken away from their story if that not all parents' methods of raising their children are easy or reasonable, but not know the do's and don'ts on the wrong and rights or feeding
In fact, Jeanette’s mother stated to Jeanette how “Lori was the smart one, Maureen the pretty one, and Brian the brave one. You never had much going for you except that you always work hard”(270). This proves that working hard makes everything possible even when it seems
By cutting off the damage, you make it possible for the tree to grow again. You watch-by the end of summer, this tree will be the strongest on the block." (Halse Anderson 187). This quote further enhances Melinda’s similarities between trees and herself as she learns from her father that as the man cuts down dead tree branches it will rid the tree from disease and toxicity giving the tree more room and space to grow. This is similar to Melinda as she rid herself from the toxicity of her old friend group in middle school.
Melinda is going through the same procedure as the tree. If Melinda put her past behind her and move on, it will give her a chance to grow. "Let me tell you about it." This quote made me happy because it was coming from a girl who stayed to herself, who wouldn't tell anybody anything, even though she had experienced something tragic. Deep down inside, her not to say nothing was hurting her even
Both of their parents did not bring Brian to the hospital because they felt “one kid in the hospital at a time [was] enough” (Walls 13). Jeanette had the opportunity to live a normal childhood but her parents chose to be poverty stricken because they both did not have the motivation to live in a civilized society and work. Because of this, Jeanette and her siblings had to endure a neglectful childhood and be made fun of by other kids because they were so poor. Both of her parents were educated, however neither of them could hold a job because they felt too constricted on doing one task. Even though the family was living in poverty, Jeanette’s parents educated, loved, and educated the kids with values; however her parents failed to provide the kids their basic needs of survival.
In contrast with the tree; the walls family were always beaten down due to poverty, spun in different directions by the wind; as in the millions of miles they move about through the country but they also have strong roots as well. Rose; Jeanette’s mother shows a deep interest and fascination over the tree. She loves to study and make portraits about it. In Rose’s perspective the tree is her view about her family; deep underneath their dysfunctional roots of trial and hardships they face; there is a strong bond of love and compassion that they have together as a
She did not have parents who really cared for her when she was younger, so she always had to make the best of a bad situation. Jeanette feels her childhood turned out the way it did because of how she was raised. She feels that “No child is born a delinquent. They only became that way if nobody loved them when they were kids.” (Walls 83).
“Mom and Dad smiled at each other and laughed. It was a sound that Tree hadn’t heard from them in the longest time” (132). This shows how Tree wasn’t sure his parents were ever going to get along again, but they end up having a good time. This is an example of how family matters most and hope is always around. This situation gave Tree strength to preserve.
She tells more stories about her dad doing more positive things than negative, so when he did good things they stood out substantially. I think that some of the negative situations with Jeannette’s mother traumatized her as a child, so she clings onto those memories, rather than the good ones. Most students in my class agree with me, while some have their different
But after the rape, Melinda is not happy with anything in her life and she is always stressed out. This is represented when she states, “But when I try to carve it, it looks like a dead tree, toothpicks, a child’s drawing. I can’t bring it to life. I’d love to give it up” (78). Melinda has changed dramatically, and this is represented by the tree she sees versus the tree she tries to make.
When she was moving from house to house she always had to be the bigger person to help her family and her siblings, nothing was easy for her but she learned how to manage finances and how to keep her family afloat. For most of her young years, she had to mentor her siblings and be that strong role model that shaped her siblings into the adults they turned out to be. Jeanette also had to face her past in many ways throughout her life and find ways to move past the painful memories and difficult traumas. She also realized as she got older that her parents were not even close to other children's parents and that with each day that went by her parents were failing her.
Throughout the book, we see Janie growing up and going through similar stages in her own life. In a way, the tree and Janie’s journey mirror each other in the way that they grow. Janie also is gaining a new perspective on life in this moment. This scene is a revelation for Janie, one where she’s waking up to the beauty of life and how she personally wants to live. Shortly after, she also says, “She was seeking confirmation of the voice and vision, and everywhere she found and acknowledged answers.
The tree is like a boat and the main mast is the biggest part, and also the most helpful. The main mast holds the biggest sail and pushes the boat the furthest. This theme can be described also in life, sometimes there is a stranger, someone unknown who is like a main mast helping you travel the sea of life. Jewett has used similes and imagery to show how the tree and the environment can be an adversary at once and then immediately become a helping
In order for a person to learn, they have to either make mistakes or learn from others mistakes. Jeanette 's parents mistake was that they didn’t think about their future and they did whatever they could to survive their hardships. Similarly, Jeanette leaned from her parents mistakes that in order for her to be successful she needs to make a sacrifice and that sacrifice will lead her to a purposeful and a brighter future. She discovered many things about her parents as she was
