Black Walnut Tree

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In the poem, “The Black Walnut Tree” by Mary Oliver, the speaker conveys the significant relationship between the tree and the family. Oliver incorporates heavy-hearted imagery and jarring diction along with the logical details regarding reasons for selling the tree in order to emphasize what the tree represents to the family and their displeasure towards selling it. The family's yearly pondering and lack of action regarding the tree exemplify how the sentimental value of an object can be more meaningful and have a larger impact than logic. Oliver lists logical details for reasons why selling the tree would be beneficial to the family. These details are significant justifications such as to “pay off the mortgage” as well as smaller, burdensome …show more content…
If the family were to sell the tree, then the speaker and her mother would “crawl with shame in the emptiness we'd made.” The words “crawl,” “shame,” and “emptiness” paint a vivid picture of the pain the family would experience from the loss of the tree due to the words' despair causing and distressing connotations. By repeatedly choosing to refuse to sell the tree, the family continues to avoid this empty and shameful feeling. Also, Oliver depicts the speaker's dream of her ancestors “filling the blue field of fresh and generous Ohio with leaves and vines and orchards.” Since the speaker dreams this the night after debating whether or not to sell the tree, the dream conveys that this decision is important. This dream of the ancestors working with nature and its beauty ignites pride within the speaker for her heritage. It is ultimately this pride of the family's heritage that pushes them away from selling the tree. The black walnut tree is a symbol of their heritage. The act of selling the tree would cause sorrow and regret among the family, even though they have legitimate reasons for selling …show more content…
If the family chooses to sell the tree, then they would face the “whip-crack of the mortgage” “month after month.” The word “whip-crack” portrays the disturbing and difficult reality the family would have to live in. The phrase “month after month” creates a prolonging effect. Together, these words emphasize how keeping the tree would have a negative and drastic impact on the family. Despite this harsh reality, the family chooses to keep the tree for another year, since they feel their blood and heritage as an “edge sharp and quick as a trowel.” The words “sharp” and “quick” combined with the simile convey the power and strength of the family's heritage. This strong pride in heritage is what convinces the family to keep the tree each year. The black walnut tree is a physical representation of their heritage. Its sentimental value overpowers the logical reasons for selling the tree. Although the mother and speaker have a conflicted debate each year regarding the fate of the black walnut tree and its implications, they always choose to do nothing about the tree. Their lack of action regarding the tree is directly influenced by the tree's symbolism and the family's pride in their heritage. Even though it would be logical and financially better for the family to sell the black walnut tree, the family can not bare to abandon their heritage. Therefore,
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