The Tree

[@devinjansa9329]

I have a different interpretation than that of murder and revenge. The sculptor who died was a more spiritual man, being he was a hermit who meditated alone while the second was a man who enjoyed the city life at night. The former did infact become ill and this wasn’t because he was poisoned. We know as the second sculptor was genuinely sad and forgot all about his work. If he wanted to kill him to win the contest he would have been concerned with finishing the sculpture and not on caring for and being with his dying friend. After the first sculptor passes on, his friend carves him a beautiful tomb and resigns to finish his work for the Tyrant. He does this because it is the last thing he has of his friend, the contest they embarked on together, but he fears being alone because the work is a way he can stay engaged in the memory of his lost friend, this is why he fears completing the work as he and his lost friend will be gone forever. But alas when the work is finished the tree branch falls and destroys the statue and possibly killing him as well. I don’t think it is about revenge as his body is not found, I think it more a message to say that the second sculptor left this world and joined his lost brother in the afterlife. This may seem like revenge but I don’t think so, I think the first sculptor was influencing fate to release the second sculptor from his pain and lonelyness. I imagine the second sculptor was constantly thinking it should have been me, why wasn’t it me who got sick, or that he can’t bear to love on without his lost brother, who from beyond the grace created a way that the two artists could be rejoined together in the next life.

[@stringwhore]

Devin Jansa no...

[@alicev5496]

I love that interpretation. It certainly makes for a more unique story than a postmortem revenge

[@mikeknight9885]

He extended a the olive branch to his old friend in the end.

[@johns1625]

I think you are right, and that the overall point of the story is it can be accurately looked at both ways. One in which the artists were secretly jealous all along, plotting murder and the other revenge from beyond the grave, but it can also be looked at the way you pointed out. Both make it a really great short story.

[@malekartorian3054]

I agree but it does beg the question. What does he know? I read it the same at first and i thought he knew how much his friend cares. But that doesnt sit perfectly well with me. The story almost feels like an homage to others Lovecraft worked with.

[@lurnfitness572]

It makes me sad that Lovecraft himself didn't think much of this story. I love it. I remember thinking "why does he keep talking about how great of friends they are, and how well they get along? That seems oddly positive and upbeat for Lovecraft..." then, when you get to the end and discover there might have been both a poisoning AND a post-murder revenge from beyond the grave! DUN DUN DUN. There's the dark side I was looking for! haha. Makes the whole 'over the top' friendship seem more false and realistic. Amazing story.

[@TheRecluseeee]

Thanks for listening! Cheers!

[@AtomFA]

omg spoilers

[@luciferstar8085]

One of my favourites

[@TheRecluseeee]

Thanks for listening! Cheers!

[@cyclos12]

Fah-tah wee-ah in way-nium

[@JackJack25]

Like the color of outer space and Pickman's model.

[@TheRecluseeee]

Thanks for listening!

[@jonathanpressman1986]

Did Mucedies kill Kalos?

[@nightmaretomb5294]

It doesn't say but it's strongly implied.

[@stringwhore]

Jonathan Pressman yes of course

[@DerangedchildofGod]

Thank you!

[@brandendavis766]

Whos the narrator?

[@jack420299]

Can anyone tell me the name of the narrator?

[@gen4sis]

@dreyescope6926 vor 7 Jahren The name of this narrator is Gordon Gould. He's my favorite of all that I've heard. Coincidentally, many of my favorite books have been narrated by him.

[@Mark-fv8vt]

I love this guy's voice! Who's narrating?

[@humblehive6502]

Mark conrad something i think it’s finnegan but i can’t be too sure

[@robbingoossens]

I believe it's Gordon Gould

[@coconutsmarties]

"friends"

[@jameskingston204]

Good reading,but If I may comment on the end, being from Greece and having a considerably decent knowledge of the Ancient Language, it's pronounced "ee-tha, ee-tha" , instead of "oi-da" . I know there are various issues with the Language transfer I just felt like I would point that out

[@TheRecluseeee]

Thank you so much for your valuable feedback! Cheers!

[@jameskingston204]

You are very much welcome!

[@kyriakospentheides]

"Oida" is closer to pronounciation of the ancient Greek dialect they would have spoken. Delta in ancient Greek was prounced as a "d" whereas in modern Greek it is a "th" as in the "the", "then", "this" and "there".

[@kurtlangberg6143]

I hadn’t known of this one before now. This was oddly, not cosmic horror. Weird, strange, definitely inspired by Greek myth. But not cosmic horror.