Essay About Barbara Kingsolver And Senior Year

Bean Trees
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The Bean Trees is a poignant novel that suggests and teaches us many things about families,
and their dynamics. Barbara Kingsolver, the author, writes about families and the dynamics and
values within those family systems. The characters in this novel are Missy, who later becomes
Taylor, and Mama who Taylor grew up with in Pittman County, Kentucky. Sandi, the horse
crazy , young, single mother who worked at Burger Derby. Mattie, the owner of
Jesus Is Lord used tires. Lou Ann, the insecure fellow Kentuckian who is Taylor and Turtles
roommate. And lastly Estevan and Esperanza, the young couple who are refugees from
El Salvador. Beginning in Pittman County with Mama and moving all the way to Tucson where
Taylor meets her current family, and how the dynamics Taylor had with Mama in their single
parent family are repeated with Taylor’s adopted daughter Turtle. Taylor used the skills that
Mama taught her to have healthy relationships. The Beans Trees shows us many examples of
these dynamics. The dynamics in Mama and Taylor’s relationship were about love,
communication, and encouragement. Whereas, you will also see other examples of what this
author suggests about families.
Missy and Mama had an amazing relationship, and Mama always treated Missy as if she
were the best thing since slice bread. Missy was what everyone called her, her name was
actually Marietta. In a scene where little Missy had gone down to the pond fishing, Missy brings
home a mess of fish. Kingsolver, writes about Mama, “’That’s my big girl
bringing home the bacon,’…and cook those things and serve them up like Thanksgiving for the
two of us.” (2) Missy and Mama didn’t have much money, however; they made ends meet and
were happy. Missy’s mama worked as a domestic for families in town, and Missy went to work
with her and looked after the smaller children. In her senior year in high school Missy got a job
at the Pittman County Hospital. She worked carrying bedpans on Saturdays