The Bean Trees: SparkNotes Literature Guide by SparkNotes

Author:SparkNotes [Sparknotes Editors]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Study Guides
ISBN: 9781411474086
Publisher: Spark
Published: 2014-09-10T00:00:00+00:00

Analysis

Turtle’s first sound coincides with the appearance of the quail family, birds that suggest several symbolic meanings. Throughout the novel, Kingsolver uses birds to symbolize Turtle. In this instance, just as the baby birds come close to getting killed but survive, Turtle miraculously survives her tortured babyhood. Turtle’s little yelp might indicate her recognition of kindred spirits in the birds. The birds also have a symbolic meaning for Taylor. The car squeals to a stop to save the lives of the birds, just as Taylor’s life stopped, or changed course, so she could save Turtle’s life. Finally, the fact that the car stops for a family of quail suggests that Taylor, Lou Ann, and the others are becoming more and more like a family.

With Estevan, Kingsolver introduces a new kind of male character in her novel. Estevan, unlike the other male characters, is not selfish, abusive, irresponsible, or mean. Rather, he is kind, intelligent, and responsible. Lou Ann draws our attention to this difference when she notes that Angel would have tried to run over the baby birds. In contrast to Angel’s cruelty, Estevan slams on the brakes to save them.

Chapter Seven makes explicit Mattie’s role as an activist for illegal immigrants and refugees. Clues from previous chapters hinted at her work: Spanish-speaking people constantly staying in her house, a hurried priest with an Indian family waiting in his car, Mattie’s explanation to Taylor that she operates a human sanctuary. It now becomes clear to us that Mattie not only works for immigrants’ rights, she hides illegal immigrants in her house. The novel takes a political stance, portraying Mattie’s work as good and heroic. Edna and Virgie do not understand Mattie’s remarks, perhaps deliberately: Virgie harbors very conservative views on immigrants and twists Mattie’s ideas in order to hear what she wants to hear. Neither does Taylor fully comprehend what Mattie says, a failure that Kingsolver does not excuse. Because Kingsolver makes the nature and nobility of Mattie’s work clear to the reader, Taylor’s failure to grasp it seems perplexing and possibly willful. Kingsolver lets us wonder if Taylor decides not to understand because the topic scares or upsets her. Estevan’s story of heaven and hell continues this political commentary. As he tells the story, he glowers at Virgie, conveying his disapproval of her views on immigrants. She thinks immigrants should fend for themselves and Americans should not help them, just as the hell-dwellers in Estevan’s story think only of helping themselves.

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