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

hidden in the shadows, as it is only natural to imagine a life without worldly struggles.

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.

However, towards the middle of the poem, the slivers of doubt increase in magnitude, bursting with the potential to reverse the speaker’s decision. The speaker shifts from a literal discussion of the logical reasons the tree needs to be sold to a figurative representation of the emotional reasons the tree needs to remain standing. The speaker experiences a new internal sensation, which she describes as “sharp and quick as a trowel” (l. 18). The simile likens two seemingly different objects: doubt and a shovel. Similar to a shovel uncovering something buried in dirt, doubt appears suddenly, and often painfully, out of nowhere. Furthermore, just as a shovel is strong and powerful, the feelings of doubt will not dissipate. The introduction of a contradictory idea connects the decision to the larger, more important role of family in this instance. The speaker seeks to preserve her familial ties, which are strong but wavering due to financial struggles. Doubt hinders the speaker from moving forward, for she now realizes that there is more to be lost than money should she begin to cut down the tree. The speaker cannot move blindly forward without uncovering additional details about her family, about this integral part of her life. Deeply wishing to somehow preserve the tree instead of contributing to its destruction, the speaker renews her dedication in support of something greater. Therefore, during this first section of the poem, the speaker attempts to only consider the financial disadvantages of keeping the tree, but she fails to confine the tree to this inhibitory box of practicality. The reader recognizes that the tree is only one part of the entire image, although the whole meaning remains unknown.
Statement of theme for conclusion paragraph: While there is a great burden associated with remaining connected with family, it is more fruitful to prioritize these unbreakable bonds which unite people.