Comparing The Needs Of Many In Barbara Kingsolver's The Bean Trees

Elaine and Robert, Mattie's two unmarried children, along with other family and friends, are encouraging her to be what they expect a seventy-eight year old woman to be. They talk about how she needs to get rest because she is slowing down and can't keep going as steady as she seems to think. When she decided to try and help a young juvenile, Wesley Benfield, become a better person by taking him to church and offering him to stay the night with her, Robert thought that Mattie was sick.

Mattie Michael grew up in Tennessee with her family and the father of her child, Butch Fuller. Everyone tells her to avoid him, including Butch himself who warns her saying, “eating cane is like living life. You gotta know when to stop chewing– when to stop trying to wrench every last bit of sweetness out of a wedge…. trick is to spit it out when the wedge is still firm… It’s hard, but you gotta spit it out right then, or you gonna find yourself chewing on nothin’ but straw in that last round” (18). Butch clearly tells her about how he he lives his life, and his issue with staying, yet, Mattie makes the mistake of getting herself involved which leads to her being impregnated by him. This results in her father savagely beating her to the point where she has to flee to Chicago and start her life alone raising her son. Though, Mattie gets through all of this and finds herself in the grace of Ms. Eva who shelters her. Then, after getting the house after Ms. Eva’s death,

Mattie is a fourteen year old girl, who has the responsibilities of an adult, which was expected of people that age in this time period. “[Mattie] kept his books for him”(keeping the books means keeping track of the money) said Mattie when she was explaining why she knew how much money her father had (Portis 15). This quote is interesting because it exhibits the amount of responsibility that was put upon her even at a young age. Also, Mattie seems to have the best math skills in her family despite having a mother and father much older than her. Mattie told Yarnell, (who is an African American that works for Mattie's family) “Yarnell said ‘you can't stay in the city by yourself’ [Mattie] said ‘It will be alright’” (Portis 26). Mattie is going to stay in the city by herself without her mom knowing when she will return, or what her sleeping arrangements are. It is strange because she is a young girl in a city alone with nobody to protect her, and her mother has no idea what is going on. Mattie told the sheriff “[I’am] looking for the man who shot and killed my father” (Poti 59). Mattie is not asking the sheriff to find the man and bring him to

Mattie is a strong self confident mechanic, she pushes through the hardships and helps her friends do the same. Taylor arrives in Tucson, Arizona, with two flat tires, little to no money, and a small childtoddler given to her by a stranger. UMattie takes a look upon seeing Taylor,M having a rough time, Mattieshe invites her inside for some coffee and juice. (Chapter 3) When Mattie first meets Taylor, she sees that she is

In the book Mattie is definitely a strong character. When Taylor meets Mattie she is surprised. Back in Pittman, where Taylor is from a woman would never own and run a tire store all by herself. Mattie may not be gaining much

Arthur Ashe once said, “True heroism is not the urge to surpass others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” Someone who stays strong in their heart and shows selflessness towards others even though he or she could be in the risk of personal risk and danger is what makes a true hero. Anyone could be recognized and admired as a hero if they could, but there's a big gap in front of that because it adds on with the hero showing compassion in spite of the obstacles that they are faced with. It could make someone more heroic than he or she ever was by just showing selflessness to others. Clara Barton put herself in danger to treat the wounded during the Civil War and not only that, but she founded what is known today the American Red Cross (History.com). Harriet Tubman helped many slaves to freedom in the north, also placing herself in peril. (History.com). Florence Nightingale, who was a nursing innovator did the similar as Clara Barton, but during the Crimean War (History.com & Biography.com). All of these women stressed the idea of helping others before they did so for themselves, but that took bravery to do so. Whether the challenges that a hero has to endure, a true hero puts others before themselves no matter what the position he or she is set in.

Mattie is the older character in this book that was owned “Jesus is Lord Tires” and was a character that acted as a mother to multiple characters. “She looked at me the way Mama would have,” (Kingsolver 252). This quote was found near the end of the book that signified Mattie looking at Taylor and Taylor observing that look and thinking that it is similar to her real mother’s. Mattie gave some money to Taylor for the trip and Taylor refused to take it, so Mattie said that it was for everyone in the car and gave her the look that reminded Taylor of her biological mother. “’I’ve got some peanut butter crackers,’ Mattie said leaning over Turtle. ‘Will she eat peanut butter?’,” (Kingsolver 252). Mattie seemed worried about Turtle and offered her something to eat. She acted as a mother figure to Turtle because she fed her and gave her more food when Turtle hinted for it. Mattie was the one that fit as a mother figure to a lot of characters in the book. She was the person that led a sanctuary and was the one who took care of the many.

Taylor could not afford the new tires she needed for her car so Mattie allowed Taylor to store her car at the shop. She eventually gave Taylor a job, so she could save money to pay for the tires. This showed that Mattie had a caring heart and was happy to help those in need. She taught Taylor many useful lessons, such as teaching Taylor to be a confident mother for Turtle. She told Taylor that raising a kid could be challenging but worth it if you were willing to try. Even through the bad times, Mattie was willing to give Taylor the love and support she needed, the whole way through. Mattie started off as being a good friend to Taylor, but due to her big, gentle heart, she was more like family. Through thick and thin, family is always there no matter

However, she uses these portrayals to contrast them to the strong bonds of friendship that she writes about in the middle of the book when Taylor is in a new community. Unlike many uncaring and unsupportive family members written about before, the introduction of the character Mattie immediately reveals her friendly personality. Mattie brings them a few snacks “...just [because they] needed some cheering up” (60), and she has a very maternal attitude towards Taylor and her child. Her compassion and caring toward them help her many times; for example, Mattie allows Taylor to “...leave [her] car there for the time being” (64) and even offered Taylor “...a job at Jesus Is Lord Used Tires” (104). Mattie helps her in her new community, and she therefore quickly becomes a motherly figure in the narrator’s life. Another person Taylor meets here is Lou Ann, when Taylor sees that she has space for rent. After talking for a while, they already agree that they get along very well: “‘Of course you can move in,’ she said. ‘I’d love it. I wasn’t sure you’d want to.’ ‘Why wouldn’t I want to?’” (101). These two characters form a genuine friendship. Even when Taylor, being independent, argues that “‘[she] doesn’t want’” them to act like a family, the two quickly make up. They appreciate each other, and Lou Ann quickly becomes like a second family to Taylor. While many families depicted previously

Mattie; however, is not considered able to live and support herself and is considered a burden her family members. Because of this she is moved around

She had to fight off the intruders by herself because her grandfather was sick and couldn’t help much. Right after that, Mattie has to fight through and survive by herself because she is the only one left at her house. Mattie is a very brave person because she can fight through these things. Even though terrible things can happen, she gets through

taking her into her house. Zeena trapped Mattie by not paying her but just giving her a

Heroes sacrifice their safety for the good of others. For example, in the article, Hurricane Irma 'heroic rescues' include two pregnant women in Martin, St. Lucie counties, the authors state that there many heroes in Hurricane Irma but these “firefighters took to their own armored vehicles to power over fallen trees and utility poles to rescue a patient in cardiac arrest, trapped at by three feet of flooding.” These firefighters were sacrificing because they were risking their lives for another in a dreadful situation. Likewise, Welles Crowther, a man who worked at the World Trade Center during 9/11, was sacrificing more than his safety

She perseveres through challenges that no normal mundane could do. She shows strength persistence even when the challenges are overbearing.

But do not mistake her being prim and proper for weakness. Because behind those generous smile is a strong-willed personality and a brave heart that stands for what is right.