Commentary on The Bean Trees Essay

Throughout reading through until the end of the novel, I found the plot line became more and more intriguing because many events were unexpected. At times, it was hard for me to follow, but it just made it all the more interesting. Although Taylor seemed to only care more and more for Turtle, I could see that Turtle was getting more attached to Esperanza and Estevan every day.

At the beginning after Estevan first informed Taylor that Turtle belonged to him and Esperanza, he didnt seem quite so confident and more so, let Taylor go on saying it was her child. In chapter 14, when an officer from the Border Patrol stopped the car and asked who the child belonged to, Estevan said, Shes ours. (Page 191) Taylor appeared to becoming unsure of how to react to those situations now with the knowledge that it is not fully her child to care for. Now I dont know if Estevan was just covered for Taylor so they could successfully get by the officer, but it seems Esperanza and him wanted Turtle back but there really is no good way to say that to Taylor. Ismene, Esperanza began referring to Turtle as her real name and it did nothing in the way of comforting Taylor. It her Taylor to sit there knowing, Turtle and Esperanza were becoming inseparable. (Page 205) Trying her best, Taylor attempted to let the situation be as it is but Taylor changed on her journey. She changed because of Turtle. Turtle had altered Taylors plans; they had to learn to love each other and now, it all seemed to be getting pulled away. Taylors life was changing, back to how it used to be, on her own.

I became a little confused when they were at the Cherokee Nation. Nearing the end of the day, during sunset, Turtle began burying her doll. She pat the ground and said, Mama, (Page 210) I thought Esperanza was her real mother. I think Kingsolver added this information for us to interpret ourselves. Maybe the burial was symbolic, that because when the government took Esperanza away from Turtle, it made her feel like she was being buried away. Turtle seems to very in touch with her surroundings although she doesnt always express them openly. She is very capable and does remember her past and has her own ways to communicate that. To Turtle, being buried, appears to have meant, going away. Taylor says, But she had to go away and leave you with other people. The way things turned out is that she left you with me. (Page 211) I take that as saying, she really wasnt dead, just buried as in; her soul was left in the ground to Turtle. All her emotions could not be expressed at Turtle wished. Turtle wasnt able to converse and that made her feel like Esperanza was taken away. Choosing to leave the doll in the Cherokee Nation was saying that, she wants her life, what has happened, to be gone. Like Taylor, Turtle wants to move on and begin a new, better life.

I thought the ending to the novel was very appropriate and pleasant. It taught everyone lessons. Esperanza and Estevan learned when you care for someone, it doesnt matter how much you want to be with them, you have to do whats best. Taylor learns how one choice can change it all, how people can grow on you, and the lesson of learning to love and acceptance. Turtle experience the adventure of her life and how new people come and go. She watched the dark highway and entertained me with her vegetable-soup song, except that now there were people mixed in with the beans and potatoes: Dwayne Ray, Mattie, Esperanza, Lou Ann and all the rest. And me. I was the main ingredient. (Page 232) Taylor finally was who she wanted to be in Turtles life. Turtle was hers and she was Turtles.