The Meaning of the Poison Tree
"Poison Tree" is an ancient poem written in the 18th century by William Blake, describing the narrator's repressed feelings toward himself. The poem suggests to the reader that suppressing anger is morally dangerous and leads to more anger and violence. It's about how not confronting our anger and problems can fester over time, making us bitter and cold, essentially leaving a poison tree representing the anger, pain, and resentment growing within us.
William Blake describes his anger as growing into a tree bearing poison apples. The speaker's enemy then eats an apple from the tree and dies. The speaker's smiles and other subtle tricks were used to mask his anger, but they actually intensify it. A more subtle meaning is, "If you let conflict grow and fester, it can be dangerous to yourself and others."
"Poison Tree" is an ancient poem written in the 18th century by William Blake, describing the narrator's repressed feelings toward himself. The poem suggests to the reader that suppressing anger is morally dangerous and leads to more anger and violence. It's about how not confronting our anger and problems can fester over time, making us bitter and cold, essentially leaving a poison tree representing the anger, pain, and resentment growing within us.
William Blake describes his anger as growing into a tree bearing poison apples. The speaker's enemy then eats an apple from the tree and dies. The speaker's smiles and other subtle tricks were used to mask his anger, but they actually intensify it. A more subtle meaning is, "If you let conflict grow and fester, it can be dangerous to yourself and others."