In Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree, the tree acts as a parental figure to the boy by providing him support and unconditional love. The boy takes her for granted and gives the reminder to appreciate those who care for us. The tree's motherly nature is expressed all throughout the short story. In the beginning, the tree and the boy love and care for each other greatly, and they both were happy. As time passed and the boy grew older, "the tree was often alone." As the boy grew mentally and physically, he has no reason to be with her. He no longer needs her because she has already given him the resources he needs to survive. This is similar to how children no longer "need" their parents and are able to get by fine without them. However, at the
