Free Essays on The Bean Trees

Thriving With Support In order to succeed and have a happy, fulfilled life one needs something or someone to help support and encourage them to grow. In Barbara Kingsolver’s novel, The Bean Trees, she creates an implicit argument that a human being cannot thrive in isolation. Each character is strong in their own way but they still need someone by their side they can depend on and someone to depend on them. To thrive and prosper in life, one must have that added support to help find the true meaning of life and keep hope that there is something or someone to love and live for. Taylor Greer is on an adventure to find a new identity for herself. In her hometown, which is in Kentucky, she does everything she can to not get pregnant and be stuck in a farmer town like all the other high schools girls ended up being. â€Å"Believe me in those days the girls were dropping by the wayside like seeds off a poppy seed bun† (Kingsolver pg.3). Ironically though, on Taylor’s journey, she is given a small Indian child she eventually names Turtle. The two of them struggle together to find a new life in Arizona. Turtle was abandoned and looking for security; Taylor came to her rescue and was willing to raise this child as her own. Turtle who was abused, was a quiet and scared girl that clung to Taylor with all her strength. â€Å"The most amazing thing was the way that child held on. †¦it attached itself to me by its little hands like roots sucking on dry dirt† (Kingsolver 22). This gave Taylor even more reason to continue her journey to find a better life. These two people needed each other in a time that was vulnerable for the both of them. As the novel goes on Taylor and Turtle help each other grow into strong individuals. â€Å"I picked up Turtle and gave her a hug. That’s right, that’s a bean. And you’re just about the smartest kid alive† (Kingsolver 97). The ironic thing about Turtle’s first word being â€Å"b... Free Essays on The Bean Trees Free Essays on The Bean Trees Thriving With Support In order to succeed and have a happy, fulfilled life one needs something or someone to help support and encourage them to grow. In Barbara Kingsolver’s novel, The Bean Trees, she creates an implicit argument that a human being cannot thrive in isolation. Each character is strong in their own way but they still need someone by their side they can depend on and someone to depend on them. To thrive and prosper in life, one must have that added support to help find the true meaning of life and keep hope that there is something or someone to love and live for. Taylor Greer is on an adventure to find a new identity for herself. In her hometown, which is in Kentucky, she does everything she can to not get pregnant and be stuck in a farmer town like all the other high schools girls ended up being. â€Å"Believe me in those days the girls were dropping by the wayside like seeds off a poppy seed bun† (Kingsolver pg.3). Ironically though, on Taylor’s journey, she is given a small Indian child she eventually names Turtle. The two of them struggle together to find a new life in Arizona. Turtle was abandoned and looking for security; Taylor came to her rescue and was willing to raise this child as her own. Turtle who was abused, was a quiet and scared girl that clung to Taylor with all her strength. â€Å"The most amazing thing was the way that child held on. †¦it attached itself to me by its little hands like roots sucking on dry dirt† (Kingsolver 22). This gave Taylor even more reason to continue her journey to find a better life. These two people needed each other in a time that was vulnerable for the both of them. As the novel goes on Taylor and Turtle help each other grow into strong individuals. â€Å"I picked up Turtle and gave her a hug. That’s right, that’s a bean. And you’re just about the smartest kid alive† (Kingsolver 97). The ironic thing about Turtle’s first word being â€Å"b...

We Decide if Rejection Fits

We Decide if Rejection Fits When we are rejected, whether Yea, yea, youve heard all that, and its easier said than done. You know, the standing back up stuff. After all, arent we just getting shot, then standing back up to be shot again? Maybe. But sooner or later, those people run out of ammo. I had a real pity party this week. Hey, didnt I have one of those not too long ago? Yes, but there are all sorts of ways to be rejected, you know. And about the time you toughen up to one form of it, another slaps you from behind. This time, I actually sat down with a cup of coffee and asked myself some pertinent questions because I didnt like how this situation made me think. I was not chosen for a speaking engagement that Id spoken at before. And its laughable now, but I caught myself seeking ways to criticize the event and the players involved rather than looking in the mirror. Childish. Then I asked myself: Do you feel like a lesser person because you didnt make the cut? Is that the problem? Did they make you question yourself, make you think you were on the wrong track? Then I asked: Is there anything in this situation that would make you change who you are and what you do? Are these gatekeepers important enough to alter your path? We dont like to think of ourselves as substandard. But sometimes its as simple as we dont have the right connection. Sometimes the person in front of us made the cut and filled the slot. Sometimes who and what we are isnt the who and what someone else needs for the job. Was I ready to change something major as a result of that particular rejection? Sometimes a rejection is a sign we arent our best, but not this time. My husband tried to tell me how they didnt merit me, which was sweet. Who doesnt love a good cheerleader? But instead I took my coffee cup back to the computer and kept on working. I could think its their loss or theyre stupid or they dont deserve me, but that makes me a type of person I dont want to be. I was a square peg for their not-so-square hole. Better to spend my energy seeking square holes.