Greenwood

While the environment plays a prominent role in Greenwood, its presence is symbolic of the larger inexplicable forces that dictate changes in fortune. Trees are often portrayed as dispassionate witnesses to the characters’ lives—Euphemia Baxter dies embracing a maple tree; Everett Greenwood and Temple Van Horne are buried near the maple trees where they began their relationship; God’s Middle Finger hangs over Jake’s thoughts as she confronts the possibility of new wealth. When Jake cuts the tree down, she briefly traces the novel’s upheavals in its rings. The events of the novel are described as occupying only a few inches in the tree’s history, minimizing their significance in the grand scheme of things.

The persistent quality of trees prompts the characters to make something good of their lives. Liam Greenwood finds his footing as a carpenter when he discovers the craft of fine woodwork. Though an environmental preservationist, Willow praises Liam’s craft, saying that it respectfully honors the sacrifice of the trees. Liam’s work resonates with Everett Greenwood’s treatment of trees; in fact, Everett directly inspires Liam’s career when he cuts down three of the maples he planted with Temple to build her coffin. Jake’s choice to cut down God’s Middle Finger represents her defiance of the belief that humanity’s needs must be prioritized over the environment’s.