Symbolism in an Excerpt about an Oak Tree

Consider the following excerpt from a fictional narrative:

“He stood before the old oak tree, its gnarled branches reaching toward the sky like twisted fingers. Each autumn, the leaves turned to gold, and with their falling, he felt the weight of his decisions pressing down on him, heavy and unyielding.”

In this excerpt, the oak tree serves as a symbol. What does it most likely symbolize within the context of the character’s experience?