The Bean Trees Chap 1-4, Post Two, Period 3
The character that I am going to look at is Taylor. Her personality is very unique, flipping to one objective to another so quickly that it is hard to identify with her. Her basic outline was laid out very quickly and accurately by Barbara Kingsolver. Taylor is very headstrong, taking the reins of her own future and not really letting anyone have an influence on where she is going. Actually, I believe that she is not quite sure where she is going in life. Her thoughts and actions have been influenced by indirect forces, for instance, the tire exploding, which created her fear of putting air into tires. Another indirect influence was actually one that Taylor was aware of: The scenery of Kentucky.
My question to you is somewhat related to Kianat’s, yet still has its own uniqueness. What could have possibly been an indirect influence on Taylor to have her except Turtle (the child)? Why do you think this? How could Taylor’s personality affect the way that Taylor might raise the child?
Right, that is all that I have for you!
-Jenni Kantor
Category: Character Watcher, Per 3 TBT CW 4 comments »
February 10th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
I think that Taylor took the baby because she felt that she had to. She left her hometown looking for a new start and adventure. She was trying to avoid pregnancy and not have a child; become independent and successful. She was given the baby and named it Turtle due to the grip that the child had on her. Taylor is very free-willed and she is always looking for something new. This could have a bad affect on raising the child becuase she may not be fully committed to it. I do think that she will do a good job, and with her experiences from growing up and working in the hospital she will know how to raise a child. When she saw that she had briuses on her from sexuall abuse, I think that she automatically saw an obligation to her becuase she didn’t want that to happen to her again. Her friend became pregnant in high school and it was with someone that was totally unexpected. It was the type of person that may have done what happened to Turtle. I think that Turtle will be raised traveling and Taylor will show her important morals that she’ll follow.
-Dan
February 11th, 2009 at 10:45 am
An indirect influence caused Taylor to accept Turtle is when she showed that she actually cared for the baby, the author made it so that Taylor didn’t argue the correct point when the baby was handed to her. She was too tired to argue, in the first place and then with such conscientiousness it was like she and Turtle were meant to be together from the start. I think this because in the letter she was writing her mother, she included “I found my head rights, Mama. They’re coming with me.” (Page 32) This has significance because it shows that Taylor has accepted the fact that the baby is going to stay with her and she will take it wherever she goes because it her moral obligation to do so. Taylor’s personality can affect the way that she will raise Turtle because the author is trying to show that Taylor has a sense of responsibility and she cares for the child as though it was her own. She wouldn’t leave it in a place that she didn’t consider right or responsible enough to take care of Turtle, and she tries to get the baby and herself onto two meals a day even if she has to work hard for it. This just goes to show that Taylor is taking on the task of raising a child from the perspective of being her mother.
February 14th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
I agree with Dan in that Taylor felt she had to. Taylor grew up in a town that could be a lot better. She probably saw a lot of orphans and people that needed help. She wanted to leave that and yet I think that part of her wanted to stay behind. I think that is another reason why she took the baby. A helpless child probably connected her to her hometown, where she obviously would have had a lot of memories. She’ll probably raise the child to be like her: be different. Taylor was different than most girls from her town in that she didn’t get pregnant as soon as possible and stayed in school. Taylor also gave the baby a unique name: Turtle. She won’t want the baby to end up like the girls back at home. Turtle is also an Indian. Having an Indian child will help Taylor connect with her Indian ancestors. These all could have influenced Taylor’s decision to take the child. Taylor’s character does seem to flip back and forth, but I think that is because she is inexperienced and nervous. She wants to make sure that she makes the right decision. She’s done alright so far. She stayed in school and got a job. She’s in for a shock when she finds out that in Arizona, you need a license to do what she did back in Kentucky with almost no experience.
February 22nd, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Good work everyone. I would like to see some discussion back and forth eventually. Especially since everyone had posted fairly early. Avoid going over the same ground as someone who as commented before you. Always say something new.