The Bean Tree Essay Research Paper The

  • Просмотров 230
  • Скачиваний 5
  • Размер файла 15
    Кб

The Bean Tree Essay, Research Paper 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 personal journey of self-discovery, commitment,

and risk-taking which illustrates these facts. Its spirited protagonist, Taylor Greer, grows up poor in rural Kentucky. In her town some families “had kids just about as fast as they could fall down the well and drown,” and a boy with a job as a gas- meter man was considered a “high-class catch.” Simply avoiding pregnancy was a major achievement for Taylor. She needed to get away from there to get ahead, and when she goes, she leaves almost everything behind, including her real name. Taylor is the name she adopts at the place where her car runs out of gas, in Taylorville, Illinois. However, what starts out as a commonplace search for personal opportunities soon turns into a test of her character and beliefs, and of her ability to face and overcome obstacles. On her way

west with high hopes and a barely functional car, she acquires a completely unexpected child. The baby girl is given to her outside a bar, by a desperate Indian woman. Taylor moves on to Tucson, Arizona, with Turtle, as she calls the little girl. There she makes new friends, finds work, and settles down to a new life. However, since Turtle is not her legally adopted daughter, Taylor finds herself at risk of losing her to the state authorities in Arizona. She must formalize her relationship with her new-found daughter. She chooses to do what it takes to adopt Turtle. She has to find a way to contact Turtle’s relatives in order to get their signatures to adoption papers. She decides to take her out of state, back to Oklahoma, along with Estevan and Esperanza, a refugee couple

from Guatemala. However, when she arrives in Oklahoma there is no trace of Turtle’s parents or her family. 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 cares