The Bean Tree
 
Write a composition based on the novel you have studied discussing the basis for and impact of individual choices. What idea does the author develop regarding choices?
	Living is about making choices. The choices people make shape their lives for better or worse. Even the decision not to choose has its effects, often not wanted. But the individual who chooses to make positive choices and to act accordingly is more likely to see his or her life reflect his or her beliefs and desires. Usually the individual who chooses to take action is also willing to face the risks and obstacles that such choices involve.
	"The Bean Tree," by Barbara Kingsolver, is a warm, funny story about a
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There appears to be no hope of Taylor adopting her without the permission of Turtle's family. Because Taylor loves and can not imagine losing Turtle, she turns to Estevan and Esperanza as her last hope. Feeling that she has no other choice, she asks them to help her by posing as Turtle's parents and signing the adoption papers. Although there is risk involved for them too, Estevan and Esperanza agree without hesitation to do so. If they get caught, however, Taylor will lose everything she wants. Turtle will be taken away and so will Estevan and Esperanza, since they are in fact illegal immigrants. 	
	Circumstances have forced Taylor to face some difficult decisions, but her upbringing
and strength of character help her move forward. Despite some moments of hesitation and self doubt she makes her choices with full knowledge of what she is doing and why. Being neither her real mother or legal guardian, if Taylor gets caught Turtle will certainly be taken away from her and put into the custody of foster parents. But, if she does nothing she will lose Turtle anyway.
	 In the same way, she agrees to take Esperanza and Estevan to Oklahoma. Before she makes this decision too, she knows there is much risk involved. If she does not help them move on from Arizona they are likely to be deported, and could face death in Guatemala. But she is breaking the law by taking illegal immigrants out of Arizona. Yet her conscience and her heart are involved. She
The Beanes family is traced back from Christopher Banes who was an immigrant from Scotland and started his life as a merchant and planter. Dr. William Beanes is a fourth generation Scottish man born on the 24th of January 1749 to the parents of William Beanes and Mary Bradley at Brook Ridge, a thousand acre farm near Croom, Maryland on the Patuxent River. His father was the first in his family to move to Prince Georges County. Brooke Ridge was given to his great grandmother, Anne Brooke since her brother died childless in 1671. William Beanes was one of seven children in his family (Magruder 2).
Life is constantly changing, like clouds in the sky; always shifting and turning. People never really know which way life will turn next, bringing them fortune or failure. When you look at how things change it is best to compare it to something that you can relate it to. The changeable nature of life can be related to the novel 'The Bean Trees.' This is a book written almost entirely on dealing with changes in the characters lives.
By fighting to save the most important part of her life, Taylor shows that she has realized what is truly important. When she decides not to discuss Turtle’s future in front of her, as though she simply property, Taylor’s renewed belief in small acts of kindness and the effect they can have on people, is shown. Once more, she knows that even small acts of compassion can have large impacts on the lives of others. The effects of Taylor’s epiphany are illustrated again when she agrees to drive Estevan and Esperanza to Oklahoma. Even though she does not want Estevan to leave, Taylor drives him and Esperanza to Oklahoma, risking fines and jail time in the process. When Mattie warns Taylor of the dangers of her plan, Taylor says, “Just stop it, okay? Estevan and Esperanza are my friends. And, even if they weren’t, I can’t see why I shouldn’t do this.” By saying this, Taylor’s belief in the importance of doing the right thing, even when it is dangerous, is displayed. Taylor’s morals have been transformed: bravery and integrity are now more important to her than safety and realism. She no longer withdraws from her friends and loved ones like she did after
In The Bean Trees, Taylor is consistently faced with a lack of choice. She decides to leave home, but on her way she stops at a bar and a woman puts a child in her car and leaves before Taylor can stop her. When she gets to a motel “[she] pulled off the pants and the diapers there were more bruises. Bruises and worse.” (31) The child abandoned had been sexually molested, making raising her a much harder burden since the child had experienced “a kind of misery [Taylor] could not imagine.” (31) Yet although the child, who Taylor names Turtle, is “just somebody [she] got stuck with” (70), she cares for her and she becomes like her own child. However, finding work and raising a child isn’t easy and “[she] was starting to go a little bit crazy. This is how it is when all the money you have can fit in one pocket, and you have no job, and no prospects.” (66) Taylor also realizes “that [her] whole life had been running along on dumb luck and [she] hadn’t even noticed.” She hadn’t been making any choices, just running with whatever life threw her way. Taylor finally realizes her luck has run out when she learns “[i]f a child has no legal guardian she becomes a ward of the state.” Turtle was not legally adopted by Taylor and therefore she could be taken away. Taylor now has the choice to either fight for Turtle or give up, but Taylor is convinced she doesn’t have a choice at all. Her friend Lou Ann calls her out on this, claiming “there’s got to be some way around them taking her, and
In the famous poem The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus, America is deemed a land of “world wide welcome” for those who seek a new place to call home. The Statue of Liberty is established early on in the piece as a symbol of freedom and protection, a statue symbolic of the spirit of America. In the piece, Lazarus refers to immigrants as the “poor, huddled masses” to whom the United States offers a pair of open “golden doors.” However, many immigrants today feel far removed from the land of freedom referenced in The New Colossus. The promise of a blue sky with endless possibilities is far from reality for the Americans that the poem calls the huddled masses. It is clear that America’s promise of freedom and opportunity, characterized by the
Throughout the novel, the author, Barbara Kingsolver, uses various stylistic devices to create complex, symbolic, and significant literature that is also rich in meaning. In the assigned passage, Kingsolver incorporates several literary devices to capture the audience’s attention and leave them with something to think about post reading.
Author use many symbolism in the book The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. She uses symbolism because it makes it easier for readers to understand the deeper meaning or feeling of the character or the events that are happening. For example, author uses the symbolism of bean trees as transformation and Ismene as the abandoned children to show the deeper meaning of them.
When they lived in Guatemala, there was a raid on their village. During the raid, their daughter Ismene was taken as well as, Estevan's brother and two friends were killed. Both of them were devastated by the losses so they ran away and started over in America. For safety reasons, Estevan and Esperanza were going to move farther away from the border. Taylor told them that she would drive them because she needs to go there to find Turtles relatives. Taylor was risking her life to for them to start a better one of their own. Estevan and Esperanza said they would help Taylor adopt Turtle as her legal daughter. During the adoption process Esperanza help turtle and cried because it was the last time she would see her. This gave her the closure that she never really got with Ismene so now she can move. Moving to different places was a big part of Estevan and Esperanza’s
Let’s say that someone handed you something unexpected. It could be anything: a computer, book, even a guitar! However, what if it was something of great value? What if it was a baby that was handed to you? Odds are, you’d probably freak out and hand the baby over to the authorities or something similar to that. But not Taylor Greer in the novel The Bean Trees! The words that Barbara Kingsolver chooses to use show a tone of informality and humor.
Marietta Greer, also known as Taylor Greer in the book The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver, started a new life by leaving her home in Pittman County, Kentucky to avoid motherhood. Her life was full of ups, downs, blessings, hardships, dramatic events, and mixed feelings. The people she met in this new life such as Lou Ann, Mattie, Estevan, Esperanza, and especially Turtle, have created a positive outlook on Taylor’s life. Without ever meeting them, Taylor’s fresh new life would have been dull and confusing. Though there are also some memories that may have followed her as a fear, but it soon became a lucky asset to have in her life. The tractor tire, the photo of Turtle during their first night together, and Turtle’s adoption document are each a significant symbol of Taylor’s journey.
The author Barbara Kingsolver once said, “Sometimes the strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.” This means that mothers can go through great lengths and even break laws for their children. In the book “The Bean Trees”, Kingsolver portrays that quote by writing about Taylor’s experiences with an abandoned child named Turtle. Kingsolver included several characters in the book that act as mother figures. Barbara Kingsolver seems to be saying that a mother does not have to come biologically through the characters of Taylor, Lou Ann, and Mattie.
“You have a face only a mother could love” Although a harsh insult this is for most mothers a very true statement. A mother’s love is something that you will probably not experience until you have your very own children. Motherhood can be a very sentimental topic in literature, especially when there is conflict with a child and their mother figure. In the book The Bean Trees there are several mother figures that each express their love for their child, even going great lengths for them. Throughout the many great themes of The Bean Trees this one by far sticks out the most because the book is mainly about a mother taking care of her child, that isn’t even hers, making many sacrifices to give her the best life possible. The main character,
In life, there are many ways you can live, however, the manner in which you live is your choice. In most peoples’ lives, they want to leave this world and say that they were happy and enjoyed every single moment of it. People feel like if they lived a happy life, then that is all that matters. But what if life has more to do than just being happy, what if it was meant for you to change the world or the lives of others? If you changed the life of another person and made them happy, you made a difference. A happy life is a good one, but a meaningful life is fruitful.
The partners of Beyond the Bean want to combine a traditional coffee shop with table/ board game rentals, where customers can socialize, in a relaxing environment. Our case analysis will demonstrate the appropriate decisions Beyond the Bean should apply to their business plan in order to achieve their goals. The report clearly identifies the problems within the case, and what choices the business should make to in order to be successful in the given area during a time of rescission. We explore the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of Beyond the Bean’s business structure, identifying vital decisions that the business should
“Beyond the Bean” has a very wide range of potential customers. It is appropriate for any lifestyle. Whether you are young of old, male or female, everyone needs entertainment and social interaction.