We can take the tree to represent a new form of growth, something that is pure and wholesome in a world that is far from it. When Melinda goes back to the scene of the rape and wishes to replant herself in the dirt, it is a belief that the tree and the notion of being "reborn" or "replanted" can represent a new start, a new commencement. This is certainly a part of Melinda's growth and her own rebirth. The tree also represents the struggle to find oneself. Just as Melinda struggles with drawing the trees, she struggles to find her voice. Both processes involve frustration and do not come with a wealth of ease. In this light, the tree is a symbol of that growth and strength that Melinda seeks to find in her own life following the rape.
