Cameron Lucey

March 1, 2011

Period 4

Chapters 3-9 The Bean Trees Characterization DJ #5

Quote
“’Lou Ann, you’re just making a joke of this whole
thing.’
‘Well, I can’t help it, I wouldn’t care if my mother
married the garbage man…’
‘Just because I don’t go chasing after every Tom’s
Harry Dick that comes down the pike.’”
(Kingsolver 112)
Analysis
The characterization of one of the duo through the
other just keeps on happening. You have to keep
your eye open for it every chapter. Taylor and Lou
Ann seem to have two different opinions of men.
Taylor doesn’t seem to like or trust them, except
for Estevan. Lou Ann is still willing to give Angel
another chance, even after all he’s put her through.
Taylor doesn’t need a man in her life, while it
appears that Lou Ann does. It’s like they are
women of two totally different time periods. Taylor
is the woman of today. She is strong-willed and
independent. She says what she thinks and doesn’t
need to have a man on her arm to be considered a
success. The sky is the limit for her. She can do
anything she believes she can. Lou Ann is like the
woman of the past. She needs a man by her side.
Without one, she kind of feels incomplete and lost.
Even though Angel left her, Lou Ann will take him
back, because she needs a man. Lou Ann doesn’t
have a job. She is a housewife, the most common
occupation of women of past generations. She
relies on the man for the money. Taylor and Lou
Ann have so much in common, yet on some topics,
they have two totally different viewpoints. It seems
like Taylor is moving forward, while Lou Ann is
moving back. Taylor seems to be growing on her
own, while Lou Ann seems to be going backward
without Angel. Taylor is definitely the more mature
one of the duo. She can function on her own, while
Lou Ann seems to need someone with her (Angel,
roommate, etc.). Both women seem to be mirror
images of their mothers. Taylor’s mom was an
independent single mother. She taught Taylor
things like being able to change a tire, so she would
be able to survive on her own in the world. Lou
Ann’s mother needs someone with her. She doesn’t
want to be alone. She’s not the type to go off into
the world alone. Lou Ann is the same way. When
her mother and grandmother came to visit, she
brings Angel back so they don’t see her by herself.
They would’ve freaked out.

The Bean Trees Chapter 16 Characterization DJ
Quote
“By this point we had run out of small talk. I was
over my initial nervousness, but without it I felt
drained… It took what seemed like an extremely
long time to draw up a statement.” (Kingsolver
214-215)
Cameron Lucey
March 10, 2011
Period 4
Analysis
Turtle buried her past in the previous chapter, and
Esperanza was allowed to bury her past in this
chapter. The fake adoption of Turtle allowed
Esperanza to say goodbye to a girl that looks like
Ismene. The fact that she never got to say goodbye
ate away at her, and this scene shows that the fake
adoption was exactly what Esperanza needed. It
finally allows Esperanza and Estevan to get on with
their lives. They’ll always miss Ismene, but they’ve
finally been able to say goodbye to their daughter.
Taylor is deeply moved by what she sees at the
adoption center. I think that if Esperanza had
wanted to keep Turtle, Taylor would’ve let her.
Taylor has a deep attachment to Turtle, but I think
Taylor realizes that Esperanza and Estevan have a
very deep attachment, too. The Taylor at the
beginning of the book wouldn’t have been able to
see that. Taylor’s grown a ton from the first time
we met her. She’s no longer the stubborn girl from
Kentucky. She’s now the educated woman from
Arizona who has seen enough to know enough.
Taylor has become a better parent over the course
of the novel, and I think this is an instance where
she would’ve done what she thought was in the
best interests of Turtle rather than herself.