Bean Trees Essay, Research Paper

The Novel The Bean Trees, by Barbara Kingslover, uses an interesting style of writing, in which the main character goes through a near full life change. Main events in peoples lives are usually noted by great achievements presented by other people, such as awards, medals or recognition. This novel doesn t show any great recognition to the main character but still portrays a significant portion of life, adolescence. The Bean Trees presents Missy Greer at her favorite, yet most controversial, times in her life. She makes a life long journey throughout the book.

People are recognized for accomplishments every day ranging from an award as large as an Oscar, to as small as a good job on top of your english paper. Being recognized for something builds strength and confidence in what you do. The main character of The Bean Trees, Missy Taylor Greer, doesn t think that recognition is that big of a deal. She probably did get recognized for some accomplishment during her life. She just didn t express it vaguely.

Missy Greer, who changed her name to Taylor early in the book, was in high school in the beginning of the book, still fragile, young, and innocent. As the book progressed she became more mature and more responsible. Not many books do that; become the minority style of writing while being well known at the same time.

Characters such as Taylor and Lou Ann change a lot. Their journey takes them from teenage life to almost full adult hood. They both go from being unsupported to being fully functional at the end of the novel. Taylor explains her first few jobs and how she felt the teenage issues of pregnancy change her beliefs along the way of her life.

Once Taylor received Turtle her views of herself and what she thought about teenage pregnancy changed. She went from a idealistic way of thinking to a realistic way of thinking. She helped her friends and family cope with everyday tasks which could not be accomplished single handed. She also made moral decisions which changed her thoughts and close friends thoughts. Like when Lou Ann told her that she screwed up the only guy that was right for her. Taylor told her about how The installation includes all parts but not all parts are required for installation… . This changed the way Lou Ann looked at dangerous things and her own personal relationships.

Lou Ann is a basket case. She thinks everything is harmful and everything its dangerous in some way. When she meets Taylor she changes and becomes less scared of little things, like what people say. You could say that she is religious in some way. She believes that you should only get married once and since she already messed up then she will never find the right guy for her.

Another character who grows up a lot is Turtle. When Taylor receives her she is about 3 she can hardly talk and she didn t do much. She progresses throughout the book as Taylor raises her in a better fashion than her real parents would have. She learns how to walk and talk from Taylor. She still has memories of her mother when she died. That is why she kept burying her dolls. She used that to symbolize that her mother was buried when she was very young.

Maddie doesn t seem to make any journey in the book. That is probably because she has already grown up and experienced what the younger characters are experiencing. She has both feet solid on the earth and knows what to do and how to do it. She knows the consequences and the benefits of he life. Even though she helps illegal aliens, she still has a respectable job and a backup plan. If she didn t have her side business, then Esperenza and Estaphan would have never entered the realms of the book. Estaphan and Esperenza are important characters because they get so close to the main character, Taylor and Turtle.

Estaphan and Esperenza both go through a journey in two different societies. They go through a emotional journey in Guatemala when their daughter was kidnapped. Then they go to a foreign country and meet Maddie and her friends. Which throws them both for a loop. Esperenza becomes close to Turtle and in the end, vouches as Turtles parents. Which was dangerous considering the government could have gotten both Esperenza, Estaphan and Taylor for perjury.

Some of the smaller characters even took journeys of their own. Characters such as Angel made journeys in a smaller manor. His journey wasn t exactly pleasant, but still categorizes as a journey. He changed his life by leaving his wife Lou Ann. Even though he wasn t really talked about after he tried to move back in with Lou Ann, he still journeyed to find what his new life would have to be.

Characters of all sorts can journey. Some don t actually travel, they take mental journeys which don t actually change their latitude on earth. Others do travel and learn throughout the story. Children usually journey by just growing up, considering life is a journey. The Bean Trees is a story filled with symbolism and simplicity. Symbolism can create a complex storyline which is hard to follow for a definite meaning of the text. A symbolism rich story may only be interpreted correctly by the author who wrote it, as is most writing. Certain things which may stand out for one reader may not for others; this may cause different reactions between two readers.

As for recommending this book for other readers, it was hard to get involved in the book and keep turning pages. This book seemed predictable to the extent of boredom. The plot changed enough to keep enough strength to keep reading. Mysteries hold interest because they are less predictable. Normally one would gain some sort of knowledge from a novel, but this novel did not teach anything.

In conclusion, Journeys happen everyday. Journeys to work, school, the beach, or even up to your bedroom at night. Everyone has experienced a journey at some point in their life. Every character in this book experienced at least one journey in some way or another. Some journeys may have a bad outcome on a characters life, while others can be positive. Still others can not effect their life at all. Journeys change characters outlooks on life or on a moral delima.