Essay Questions

Why is Joseph making sacrificial offerings to the oak tree located at the center of his land?

Joseph is passionate about farming, and he is doing everything possible to enlarge his farm. Joseph inherits the spirit for farming from his father, who is dedicated to agriculture. When Josephs gets to the new land where he is supposed to plant, he falls in love with the fertile ground for a while. After his father's death, Joseph is not worried at all because he believes that the spirit of his father has rested on the oak tree, which is at the center of his farm. Consequently, Josephs regards this oak tree as sacred, and he offers sacrifices to it so that he can receive blessings.

What is the symbolic meaning of the oak tree?

The oak tree emblematically means supreme power because John and other people worship it and offer sacrifices. According to Joseph, the oak tree symbolizes peace and tranquility in his life. Similarly, villagers are using the oak tree for ritualistic purposes because they dance around it. However, Burton disagrees with Joseph and the villagers because it terms their actions as satanic worship, but this does not prevent them from worshiping the tree.

How did Joseph finally accept that his father is dead?

At first, Joseph did not even worry after getting the news about his father's death because he believed that his father's spirit rested in the oak tree. Joseph worshiped and offered sacrifices to this oak tree because it represents god and peace in his life. Ironically, after many years, the oak tree died, and that is when Joseph realized that his father died many years ago. The villagers who worshiped the oak tree also get shocked when their supreme power dies.