The understory

The understory is symbolic of how many people do not realize the depth of life trees have and how they gloss over all of the smaller details under a story. The understory is mentioned several time and it refers to the growth on a forest floor. These growths hold a lot of plant and animal life that may not be seen as much as the tree tops, but they are still essential to the lives of the forests. These details are essential to seeing the while picture and having the entire ecosystem work. This symbolizes how many might not see the whole picture and you have to dig a little further to understand how everything works.

Interconnected roots

The interconnected roots of the trees, which are mentioned several times throughout the novel are important because they symbolize how all beings in the world are connected...