1. When mother refers to the fallen apple tree, she mentions that there will be "more light with that thing gone". On one level this statement can be taken literally. How else could this comment be interpreted?

Kate makes this comment after Chris cuts down the broken tree......... literally, it means that the tree has been removed and the light will no longer be blocked by its presence. Another way to interpret this would be that no matter how much she wanted to keep Larry alive in her memory........ her enlightenment and knowledge of the truth are just as important.