Gabrielle and a tree is such a visual motif though. I don’t know whether that was just Renee’s choice but there’s something about her always shown attacking a tree.
What does a tree represent? The immediate answer is nature. But specifically evolution of nature. The seed that turns into a tree. A tree endures longer than other flora does when it comes to natural disaster. It’s only with human interference it struggles to stay standing.
Otherwise it is the strongest plant in the entire forest.
So Gabrielle attacking a tree is a representation of at first - her naivety, innocence and idealism - and then later - her inner conflict of betraying her nature’s roots.
Because she does it quite a few times throughout the show - which makes me think it’s the actor’s choice.
But regarding what this could mean for the character, it really is quite the thought process given what a “tree” is and represents and how durable it is at its very core.
What did that tree ever do to her? Nothing,
That’s the point. Her fight is within herself.
Just as it is with Xena. But Xena doesn’t have a visual motif that’s so representational of the inner conflict in her nature except a gritty, dirty, ugly appearance. So when there’s a change in Xena with this, it’s loud and obvious. But Gabrielle is more quiet and nuanced as far as the changes in her go. There’s no shock factor to it.
So then it is able to really hit when it really happens. Of course the attacking the tree scenes probably aren’t intentional. But then most things in this show aren’t.
It still makes for great thematic and poetic storytelling, and - as Xena says in only the 2nd episode - in the end you find the strongest trees in the forest stand alone.
