Summary of Unchopping a Tree: W.S Merwin
‘Unchopping a Tree’ is a pseudo directive essay. Writer W.S Merwin gives commands like start with this, and then do that, then other, finish with this, but all actions are impossible to perform. Although this essay seems funny outwardly Merwin indirectly suggests conserving the ecology and environment. For Merwin, it is easy to destroy anything but very difficult create. Deforestation is very easy to work but to grow some trees is almost impossible. People are irresponsible for the conservation of nature rather they are creating problems by destroying the forest and making pollution. Merwin mucks them by providing the task of unchopping a tree.
Merwin says that one tree is cut down. Now our duty is to erect (make it stand) it. He suggests us to start from leaves, twigs, and nest of birds. It is our duty to join every part of the tree in the original place. If the tree is cut in the chip, it will be easier if not we need to join dust. Every broken piece like bark, outer layer, stem, net of spiders, beehive, etc should be joined and placed them in the right position. Merwin suggests us to use fixative or adhesive to join the broken parts. He suggests us to take the help of scaddolder to erect the tree.
Finally, a huge tree will be standing in front of us. We can take a nice sleep for the whole night. The tree is still standing the next morning. But, Merwin orders us to remove scaffolders. We can’t belive in our own eyes because the tree is still standing. But, when gentle breeze blow or clod appears in the sky, the tree will easily fall down. Now, we can do nothing except joining the parts again.
