Analysis of Cold Sassy Tree Essay

Cold Sassy Tree, written by Olive Anne Burns, is a story about a young boy named Will growing up in a small town. Will has many questions as he is coming of age. Usually when these questions arise he turns to his Grandfather for answers. Wills Grandfather serves as his mentor through out this book, and Will knows he has a lot of learning to do.

Will starts to wonder about death, and the after life. When he asks his Grandfather he responds, As you know, son, jest believin we gon live forever in the next world dont make it so - or not so. Will then decides for himself what to believe just like his Grandfather wanted him to. When Wills Grandmother dies, he starts having these thoughts again. He asks if there is a heaven. Grandfather tells him, I like to think so, son. Ifn they is a Heaven, shes up there, I know thet. Aint but one way to find out if she is or aint though. And Im not thet curious. Havin faith means its all right either way, son. The Lord is my shepherd means I trust Him. Whatever happens in this life or the next, and even if they aint a life after thisn, God planned it.

Things that cause will to have questions are his Grandmother dying and people around him getting sick. He says I got to ponderin on it last night, the word ast. But ast for what? For meat and bread? For healin miracles? Are we sposed to ast Lord, give me the answers on the arithmetic test, Lord git me hired over the next feller, Lord give me a son? When Will asks about prayer Grandpa tells him that prayer is a way to talk to God, but he is not sure if it is useful or not. So he tells Will to talk to God like he is a good friend. Then he says to talk to him like he knew him since he was a child.

When Rucker is on his deathbed, Will wonders how things could happen like this on this Earth if everything was created by a just God. Will asks him about his opinions on Gods generosity and prayer. Rucker tells him that God does not give material things. He grants strength to those in need, or those who cannot carry on. As more sad things strike Will, he learns to take things in stride. As the town matures with Will, they decide the town needs to become more modern. They decide it is necessary to cut down the last sassafras tree. The tree represents the heritage for the town. The trees roots are like the roots the early settlers put down to make Cold Sassy their home. The town does carry on with cutting down Cold Sassy and widening the railroad, distancing itself from its old heritage. The distance created represents the citizen of the town trying to move on from Cold Sassys passed. The citizens grow apart and try to modernize a once rural, lovely town.

At the end of the book Will comes of age and has answers to most of his questions. He carries on, remembering what his Grandfather said to him. This happened because his Grandfather was a great mentor to him throughout his teen years. When the town starts to grow apart, Will knows he will have three things he can count on, God, his Grandfather, and himself. The town wants change, but people that are comfortable with where they are do not necessarily want change. Will knows, however, that he will have to change with the times in order to get through life.