“Love each other or die” (Albom 163). If the people in this world were to love each other, the world would be a much better place. The world is filled with hate and anger. If hate and anger were replaced by love and compassion, the lives of the people in this world would be enhanced. Lessons of life and death are both taught by the book Tuesdays with Morrie, by Mitch Albom, and Shel Silverstein’s short story The Giving Tree. Both works of literature give perspectives on life in different ways. Both Mitch Albom and Shel Silverstein want to show how to live life by loving others, aging, and developing relationships. Tuesdays with Morrie, a nonfiction novel, is about a student who reconnects with his old professor, Morrie Schwartz, after learning
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Love was definitely present in this story; however, the love was one-sided. In the relationship between Mitch and Morrie, the love was present in both sides. Within their relationship, the tree was the only thing giving love. “Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in the city” (Silverstein). The tree gave love but she never received it. The boy took advantage of the tree and took all the love she had. Also in the story, the boy and the tree did some aging. “But the boy stayed away for a long time…. and the tree was sad” (Silverstein). Just like Mitch did, the boy in The Giving Tree left the tree for extended periods of time. However, he came back several times instead of just one time like Morrie did with Mitch. The boy only came back to the tree when he needed something. When the two stories concluded, both the boy and Mitch aged and gained wisdom. They both finally learned from their mistakes that they committed when they were young. “‘...Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest.’ And the boy did. And the tree was happy” (Silverstein). The boy came back to the tree for a safe place and the tree gave him just that. Mitch came to Morrie for a safe place and to learn from him, and Morrie provided just that. Mitch and Morrie both aged throughout the stories. In The Giving Tree the boy and the tree’s relationship developed. Unfortunately, the development did not go as well as Mitch and Morrie’s relationship did. “...the boy cut down her trunk and made a boat and sailed away. And the tree was happy… but not really” (Silverstein). The boy always came back, unfortunately, it was to take more away from the tree. Just like Morrie and Mitch’s relationship, their relationship started off well. They soon, however, grew swiftly apart. The Giving Tree had a quick development in the relationship unlike Tuesdays
Love was definitely present in this story; however, the love was one-sided. In the relationship between Mitch and Morrie, the love was present in both sides. Within their relationship, the tree was the only thing giving love. “Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in the city” (Silverstein). The tree gave love but she never received it. The boy took advantage of the tree and took all the love she had. Also in the story, the boy and the tree did some aging. “But the boy stayed away for a long time…. and the tree was sad” (Silverstein). Just like Mitch did, the boy in The Giving Tree left the tree for extended periods of time. However, he came back several times instead of just one time like Morrie did with Mitch. The boy only came back to the tree when he needed something. When the two stories concluded, both the boy and Mitch aged and gained wisdom. They both finally learned from their mistakes that they committed when they were young. “‘...Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest.’ And the boy did. And the tree was happy” (Silverstein). The boy came back to the tree for a safe place and the tree gave him just that. Mitch came to Morrie for a safe place and to learn from him, and Morrie provided just that. Mitch and Morrie both aged throughout the stories. In The Giving Tree the boy and the tree’s relationship developed. Unfortunately, the development did not go as well as Mitch and Morrie’s relationship did. “...the boy cut down her trunk and made a boat and sailed away. And the tree was happy… but not really” (Silverstein). The boy always came back, unfortunately, it was to take more away from the tree. Just like Morrie and Mitch’s relationship, their relationship started off well. They soon, however, grew swiftly apart. The Giving Tree had a quick development in the relationship unlike Tuesdays