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The Tree (short story)
Encyclopedia
"The Tree" is a short story
by American
horror fiction
writer H. P. Lovecraft
, written in 1920
and first published in the October 1921
.
by Arthur Machen
, published in 1890. Of particular note is Machen's depiction of Pan as a power of nature.
"The Tree" is told in past tense, in third person objective. The location of the story is Mount Maenalus, in Arcadia, Greece
, a mountain which was a "chosen haunt" for the Greek God Pan
. The story opens with a vivid description of the olive grove, and a fearful, human-like olive tree within it.
The story then introspectively turns several years back, recalling the famous sculptors Kalos and Musides, whose works were praised throughout the known world. One day, the Tyrant of Syracuse invited Kalos and Musides to compete in the creation of "a wonder of nations and a goal of travelers". While working on their sculptures, Kalos fell ill, much to the dismay of Musides.
The visible conflict within the plot begins with a dying Kalos and an attendant Musides. Kalos preferred meditation in the olive grove, while Musides felt shunned by his dear friend. On his death bed, Musides insisted on erecting an elaborate marble tomb, while Kalos asked only for the planting of olive twigs near his head. After the death of Kalos, Musides buried the olive twigs, in addition to constructing a tomb.
Over time, Musides felt haunted by the gnarled olive tree that grew over Kalos' grave. The tree's roots grew as if nourished by the unfinished sculpture of Kalos, while above Musides' labors a large branch had grown overhead. The night before the statue was to be taken to the Tyrant of Syracuse, a tremendous storm came. With the singular fall of that one overhanging branch, both Musides and his statue were gone forever.
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by American
American literature
American literature is the written or literary work produced in the area of the United States and its preceding colonies. For more specific discussions of poetry and theater, see Poetry of the United States and Theater in the United States. During its early history, America was a series of British...
horror fiction
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
writer H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
, written in 1920
1920 in literature
The year 1920 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Agatha Christie publishes her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, introducing the long-running character detective, Hercule Poirot....
and first published in the October 1921
1921 in literature
The year 1921 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-New books:*Edgar Rice Burroughs – Tarzan the Terrible*James Branch Cabell – Figures of Earth*Hall Caine – The Master of Man*Willa Cather – Alexander's Bridge...
.
Background
This story came early in Lovecraft's writing career, and is generally considered to be within his "Macabre" phase. Lovecraft's inspiration for the story likely came in part from the book The Great God PanThe Great God Pan
"The Great God Pan" is a novella written by Arthur Machen. A version of the story was published in the magazine The Whirlwind in 1890, and Machen revised and extended it for its book publication in 1894...
by Arthur Machen
Arthur Machen
Arthur Machen was a Welsh author and mystic of the 1890s and early 20th century. He is best known for his influential supernatural, fantasy, and horror fiction. His novella The Great God Pan has garnered a reputation as a classic of horror...
, published in 1890. Of particular note is Machen's depiction of Pan as a power of nature.
Publication history
"The Tree" was first published in The Tryout, 7, No. 7 (October 1921), [3-10].Synopsis
Arcadia
Arcadia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the central and eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. It takes its name from the mythological character Arcas. In Greek mythology, it was the home of the god Pan...
, a mountain which was a "chosen haunt" for the Greek God Pan
Pan (mythology)
Pan , in Greek religion and mythology, is the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, nature, of mountain wilds, hunting and rustic music, as well as the companion of the nymphs. His name originates within the Greek language, from the word paein , meaning "to pasture." He has the hindquarters, legs,...
. The story opens with a vivid description of the olive grove, and a fearful, human-like olive tree within it.
The story then introspectively turns several years back, recalling the famous sculptors Kalos and Musides, whose works were praised throughout the known world. One day, the Tyrant of Syracuse invited Kalos and Musides to compete in the creation of "a wonder of nations and a goal of travelers". While working on their sculptures, Kalos fell ill, much to the dismay of Musides.
The visible conflict within the plot begins with a dying Kalos and an attendant Musides. Kalos preferred meditation in the olive grove, while Musides felt shunned by his dear friend. On his death bed, Musides insisted on erecting an elaborate marble tomb, while Kalos asked only for the planting of olive twigs near his head. After the death of Kalos, Musides buried the olive twigs, in addition to constructing a tomb.
Over time, Musides felt haunted by the gnarled olive tree that grew over Kalos' grave. The tree's roots grew as if nourished by the unfinished sculpture of Kalos, while above Musides' labors a large branch had grown overhead. The night before the statue was to be taken to the Tyrant of Syracuse, a tremendous storm came. With the singular fall of that one overhanging branch, both Musides and his statue were gone forever.
Characters in The Tree
- Kalos: A sculptor whose source of inspiration is derived from meditation and conversations with "spirits of the grove... for he patterned his work after no living model."
- Musides: A sculptor whose inspiration comes from socializing: "revel[ing] by night amidst the urban gaieties of TegeaTegeaTegea was a settlement in ancient Greece, and it is also a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Tripoli, of which it is a municipal unit. Its seat was the village Stadio....
". - Kalos & Musides: Despite the unrivaled mastery for their craft and their very different natures, the two were like brothers, with no jealousy between them.
- Pan: The ultimate source of Kalos' inspiration, and the antagonist that ends the story.
Themes
The two primary themes of this story, drawing on Lovecraft's common themes, are:- Forbidden knowledge: The mastery of sculpture is highly pronounced throughout the story. Particularly troubling is that while Kalos's abilities come from the Gods, Musides are entirely human. In Lovecraft's literature, it is an egregious sin for humanity to exceed or compete with ability reserved solely for the Gods.
- Nonhuman influences on humanity: The role of Pan, particularly in the end of the story, in destroying Musides.