The Bean Trees Character Analysis

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Turtle In The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver, three characters in particular undergo a catharsis, each in their own way: Esperanza, Turtle, and Taylor. This paper will focus on Turtle showing the suffering and difficulties,she has undergone and how through a catharsis, this suffering was ameliorated. Turtle is different from the characters in the story because she is in her very early years of development and has already experienced so much suffering and has gone through so much so early on in her youth. The nature of Taylor’s suffering begins with her parents dying before her eyes, and having to see Newt Hardbine’s father blown up by a tire,the way she grew up and saw everyone around her be unsuccesful was very discouraging, …show more content…

These events affect Taylor’s life deeply,her future is affected by these events because of the way she views herself and other people.A character who helped Taylor through her suffering is Lou Ann a woman who settled in Tucson.Her husband, Angel, has just walked out on her when the story begins and she takes Taylor and Turtle in with her. She worries about the terrible accidents and horror the child has been through, but through the whole story she is always there for Taylor and Turtle. Another character that helps Taylor through her suffering is Mattie, it is also quite ironic that she is the owner of Jesus Is Lord Used Tires. She is wise and kind. She is a mother figure for Taylor. A scene that exemplifies her catharsis is when Turtle reenacted the burial of her mother, Esperanza is relieved by the ceremony of giving up Turtle. Esperanza never got a chance to say goodbye to her daughter, Ismene, so she gets closure in a formal goodbye scene with a girl who looks like her own child and who she loves like her own child. It is also a comforting illusion that she has left her own daughter in good hands with Taylor, a big relief because she does not know who cares for Ismene. The goodbye is a catharsis, a renewal. Taylor

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