Analysis Of The Black Walnut Tree By Mary Oliver

Introduction and Body Paragraph One Scientists are perpetually astounded by the ability of plants to withstand environmental restrictions. Plants deprived of enough access to sunlight will grow in a direction towards the sun, an adaptation that often results in odd angles of stems or trunks, but ultimately allows the plant to receive the nourishment necessary to survive. In Mary Oliver’s poem The Black Walnut Tree, thee speaker must decide between selling her walnut tree to relieve a financial burden and keeping her walnut tree to reinforce her familial ties. Though the burdens of remaining connected to family are emotionally and financially warping, the basic human need to love conquers all obstacles. However, a measure of regret always remains

In the first half of the poem, the tone of the speaker reinforces a one-sided argument until a simile signals a fundamental shift in the direction of the ideas of the speaker. At the beginning of the poem, the speaker and her mother argue over what should be done with their walnut tree, for the family could cut down the tree in order to sell it for profit. The speaker justifies this decision, stating, “Likely some storm anyway/will churn down its dark boroughs” (ll. 6-7). The tone during this section is acquiescent and practical. The speaker is definite about her decision regarding the tree, but slivers of doubt lurk in the background, threatening to destroy the plan the speaker has crafted. The speaker justifies her decision, for she is aware that selling the tree is financially advantageous. Not only is the tree a threat to the financial stability of the mother and daughter, it also represents a very real threat to their safety. By presenting arguments in support of selling the walnut tree, the speaker creates a grand illusion, convincing the reader that this is the only sensible option. The reader accepts the sale of the walnut tree as an unavoidable outcome, and the discussion appears to be closed.