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The Mistake Tree
The “wait-and-see tree” that Gloria helps Opal plant is a symbol for Opal herself. As the name implies, Gloria has no idea what kind of tree the young sapling is—it could be anything. Despite not knowing, she insists that it’s important to plant it, nurture it, and see what it does. Through this, Opal learns that just like the tree, she deserves love, kindness, and support from those around her—even if it’s unclear, given her young age, who or what she’ll become as she grows.
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The Wait-and-See Tree Symbol Timeline in Because of Winn-Dixie
The timeline below shows where the symbol The Wait-and-See Tree appears in Because of Winn-Dixie. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 10
...it. When Opal asks what kind of tree it is, Gloria replies that it’s a wait-and-see tree . In other words, she doesn’t know what it is, but they’ll find out when...
(full context)
Chapter 26
...her as much as she did this summer. When Opal is finished, she remembers the wait-and-see tree that Gloria helped her plant. Opal finds it and is shocked by how much it...
(full context)
