Analysis Of The Bean Trees By Barbara Kingsolver

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The phrase, “But we were cut out of the same mud, I suppose, just two more dirty-kneed kids scrapping to beat hell and trying to land in our feet” (The Bean Trees, 2), tells me that the main character, being, Marietta Greer (also referred to as, Taylor Greer or Missy) believes she and Newt Hardbine, an acquaintance, face parallel circumstances. Referring to the type of lifestyle they were surrounded by and must cope with; which was one where her community, is constantly struggling and where its residents don’t have much of a future. The Novel describes it as a poor rural area in Pittman County, Kentucky, where the chances of prospering were dim. As a matter of fact, the setting relates to the real life of Barbara Kingsolver, the author of The Bean Trees, seeing that it is where she grew up. …show more content…

The Pittman County lifestyle was not one that Greer wanted. She wanted for herself a better life; and for that to happen, she had to follow her own footsteps; which meant doing things differently than those from her hometown. Greer comments, “I stayed in school. I was not the smartest or even particularly outstanding but I was there and staying out of trouble and I intended to finish” (The Bean Trees, 3). The vast majority of women in the county became pregnant at a young age, and, or lived their entire lives as housewives, but Greer opposed to this and prevented such occurrences from becoming her reality. “Mama always said barefoot and pregnant was not my style. She knew” (The Bean Trees, 3). The tactics that would lead her into a new life elsewhere, filled with opportunity, was no other than her education; along with the support her mother gave her through love and guidance, which eventually constructed her aspirations for a better lifestyle. “There were two things about Mama. One is she always expected the best out of

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