what does the tree symbolize in the poem 'On Killing A Tree'?
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Answer:
A symbol is anything that represents or suggests an idea, image, belief, or action.
In this poem 'on killing a tree', Gieve Patel use the tree as a powerful symbol of growth, struggle and death. The tree symbolises nature, and its destruction shows man's folly because in destroying nature, man destroys himself. The tree is a generous helper. But, in turn,man kills the tree. A simple jab of the knife or mere act of hacking and chopping cannot kill a tree. It only inflicts pain. Its bleeding bark will heal, bear leaves and grow to its former size. The green twigs the small boughs bring new hope. The root of the tree stands for firmness, security and strength. It is sensitive. The killing of the tree by uprooting it and exposing it to the sun shows man's insensitivity and cruelty that put human civilization under serious threat.
In this poem, the tree is a symbol of deep-rooted evil.
The poet uses trees as metaphors for human being. People feel suffocated and saddened by oppression and dependence. They yearn for freedom and independence. They rebelled against oppression, slavery and exploitation in order to be free and to protect themselves. The trees also rebelled against confinement to return to the forest. Therefore, they are an appropriate symbol for humans.
Social evils developed with such force from a giant tree. Killing a tree also symbolizes man's ruthless attack on nature.
The poet compared the skin of a leper to the bark of a tree. So in the poem, kill the tree, the skin means the skin and the leper is called leopard skin or discolored skin is from the bark.
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