The Final Economy of Gifts

The Faraway Tree

This flow traces the transformation of presents from personal wishes into a network of remembered relationships.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

Wish Lists Wish Lists from "The Faraway Tree". Wish Lists Private Wants Fanny wants blue beads, Dick wants chocolates, and Jo wants a flying aeroplane.

Wish Lists from "The Faraway Tree". Wish Lists Private Wants Fanny wants blue beads, Dick wants chocolates, and Jo wants a flying aeroplane.

Wish Lists Private Wants Fanny wants blue beads, Dick wants chocolates, and Jo wants a flying aeroplane. Their expectations initially center on personal pleasure. Anticipation The children's excitement reflects the familiar dream of receiving. The land will challenge that dream by changing the purpose of every object.

Rule Revealed Rule Revealed from "The Faraway Tree". Rule Revealed No Self-Gifting The goblin refuses Dick's request for chocolates for himself. The land distinguishes a present from an acquisition.

Rule Revealed from "The Faraway Tree". Rule Revealed No Self-Gifting The goblin refuses Dick's request for chocolates for himself. The land distinguishes a present from an acquisition.

Rule Revealed No Self-Gifting The goblin refuses Dick's request for chocolates for himself. The land distinguishes a present from an acquisition. Desire Redirected Dick must think of another person before the desired object becomes available. The rule changes the emotional direction of the visit.

Reciprocal Exchange Reciprocal Exchange from "The Faraway Tree". Reciprocal Exchange Fanny and Dick Dick gives Fanny the blue necklace, and Fanny obtains his chocolates.

Reciprocal Exchange from "The Faraway Tree". Reciprocal Exchange Fanny and Dick Dick gives Fanny the blue necklace, and Fanny obtains his chocolates.

Reciprocal Exchange Fanny and Dick Dick gives Fanny the blue necklace, and Fanny obtains his chocolates. Each receives what he or she wanted through an act of giving. Mutual Pleasure The exchange proves that generosity does not eliminate desire; it gives desire a social form that benefits both people.

Misheard Presents Misheard Presents from "The Faraway Tree". Misheard Presents Clock for Frock The Saucepan Man's deafness produces a grandfather clock instead of Bessie's frock.

Misheard Presents from "The Faraway Tree". Misheard Presents Clock for Frock The Saucepan Man's deafness produces a grandfather clock instead of Bessie's frock.

Misheard Presents Clock for Frock The Saucepan Man's deafness produces a grandfather clock instead of Bessie's frock. His intention is generous even when the object is wrong. Lion for Iron A second mishearing gives Dame Washalot a lion. The comic errors show that good intentions require attention to another person's actual words.

Gifts for Home Gifts for Home from "The Faraway Tree". Gifts for Home Parents Remembered The children choose useful objects for Mother and Father. The upper land's abundance is brought into the household as care.

Gifts for Home from "The Faraway Tree". Gifts for Home Parents Remembered The children choose useful objects for Mother and Father. The upper land's abundance is brought into the household as care.

Gifts for Home Parents Remembered The children choose useful objects for Mother and Father. The upper land's abundance is brought into the household as care. Moral Completion The visit ends when giving has connected every major relationship. The final adventure converts fantasy into gratitude and leaves the children richer in affection than in possessions.

before the Land of Presents visit

at the first Christmas Tree

midway through the Land of Presents visit

during the Saucepan Man's shopping

the final minutes before departure