" 3 Therefore there is no need for the man to speak in order for the narrator to understand his mood. There would also be nothing too this story is the man spoke, because then they would each be on equal grounds and not have as strong a connection.
There is a strong narrative structure and form in "Trees Can Speak." It is told in the first person from a narrator who is finding out things for the first time; just as we are. We have access to the narrators thoughts and feelings; especially how he feels about the "Silent Joe." He is curious and not very knowledgable about the bush. However, the narrator feels if he could understand them man, then he could understand the bush. However, the bush is something that is not supposed and cannot totally be understood; considering it is so vast and complex. This story is formed in such a way that we are always on a constant journey with the narrator; with his indecisiveness about situations. He constantly asks the mysterious man for reassurance which shows his weak and uncertain nature. I also see the narrative structure of this shot story being very spiritual. The mysterious man "was akin to trees and they spoke through him." 4 The spirit of the trees appears to live on through the gentle man. In an online article by Lisa Mahon it says, "There are many, past and present who believe trees are old spirits, old souls, here to comfort us." 5 This is interesting because all throughout the story, the myserious man comforts the narrator and even saves him at the end, by giving him a helping hand out of the shaft. This story also leaves us wondering a lot of things like who the mysterious man why he does no speak.
The "Persimmon Tree" by Marjorie Barnard has no dialogue in it, yet is very powerful. We only hear the thoughts of the narrator and we watch what is going on around her, but at no point are we part of it. We see the story as being enclosed within the frame of a window with a limited one sided view.
