The Night Gardener

The gifts of the tree play important roles throughout the book. From the gardener’s eternal life to the promissory notes for Fig and Stubbs, each gift adds to the complexity of the plot and the conflict. The gardener’s request for eternal life allows the tree to become the monster it is during the primary events of the novel, and the sheer number of graves on the island implies that the tree has given many gifts to unsuspecting victims who became dependent on its seeming generosity. In Chapter 42, Kip discovers that the tree’s roots extend almost all the way across the bridge, implying that given enough power, the tree may one day succeed in reaching the mainland. This may be what it works toward by luring victims with its gifts.

The gifts the tree gives the Windsors are specific to the internal struggles that each character faces. Mr. Windsor has always wanted to be a rich man so that he can provide for his family, and the money symbolizes his failure to achieve this without the tree’s help. Similarly, Constance receives replicas of her wedding ring from the tree, showing how she wishes for a simple life with her family, rather than a life of riches. Alistair’s sweets symbolize his gluttonous nature, for no matter how much he receives, he always wishes for more. Penny’s books, like Constance’s ring, recall a time when matters within the family were healthier and more secure, and they also symbolize her desire to have that time back. Each gift therefore represents a time in the past when the characters felt things were best, and the gifts themselves both represent the happiest times and the reality that nothing in life is permanent.