The Bean Trees Entry #3: Character Watcher: Brandon Greer
In this section, Taylor learns about what other people have to go through. Her vision of the world has opened up. Taylor is horrified to learn that Estevan was tortured with electric wires. Taylor is amazed that Estevan and Esperanza helped other people instead of trying to find their daughter. When Taylor remembers the dolls that she played with when she was little, she has to accept that even though that the fictional family of dolls has a perfect life, real families are never perfect, and that they always have their bumps in the road.
Taylor’s senses seem to have developed more as she learns about the horrors of the world. Taylor’s friendship with LouAnn also continues to develop. Taylor’s influence increase LouAnn’s confidence, allowing LouAnn to get a job and be promoted quickly. LouAnn observes that Taylor is never controlled or made fun of by anyone, because Taylor won’t allow them to take advantage of her.
Taylor learns even more about the troubles that the people she knows are facing. Esperanza and Estevan must move to escape death. When Taylor finds out that Turtle was hurt in the park, Taylor collapses emotionally, as she is flooded with guilt. She was given the responsibility to protect Turtle, and Taylor feels as though she blew it. Taylor becomes deeply troubled when she learns that Turtle might be taken away from her because she has no legal claim to her. LouAnn lights a spark in Taylor, who is already extremely upset with herself because of what happened in the park. Taylor’s determination is back when she gets the name of a man who can help her find Turtle’s relatives, so she can legally adopt Turtle.
My question to you has several parts:
1. After Turtle is attacked in the park, Taylor becomes more timid, like LouAnn. Do you think that the event made Taylor more vulnerable to being influenced by others, or that the event just shocked her that much? Do you think that there is a mixture of both?
2. After Taylor finds out where she can find Turtle’s relatives, her normal determination is back, as she wants to legally adopt Turtle. Do you think that your personality would bounce back that quickly if you were in Taylor’s place?
3. Do you think the revelations made to Taylor about the horrors of the world have had any affect on how she raises Turtle?
Category: Per 3 TBT CW 3 comments »
March 1st, 2009 at 3:33 pm
To answer your first question, I believe no matter how distraught Taylor is, there is no way that she will allow her self to be taken advantage of. She is to full of self preservation to try to give up on not only herself, but also on everyone else. Each person will go through a state of depression, whether it be small or large. Taylor just went through hers at a critical moment.
To answer your second question, yes, I do believe that I would bounce back very quickly. I do not hold anything to myself for too long.
For your final question, I believe that Taylor had no real raising scedule for Turtle in the first place. This event definitly changes the way that she raises her. Now she will be more cautious.
There is my blog!
-Jenni Kantor
March 1st, 2009 at 8:03 pm
I think that if anyone wanted to take advantage of the fact that Taylor was upset over Turtle at that point they could have because she was venerable at the most. She was definitely shocked about what happened at the park, because she had promised to protect Turtle. She realized that Turtle could have easily died, and felt that Turtle deserved better. She wasn’t herself when she was talking Cynthia about Turtle, she didn’t really feel that she had a right to object about Turtle’s well being which she felt was better at the orphan homes than under her care.
I think that my personality would bounce back really quickly if I was in Taylor’s place, because to me it would be like a whole new light of hope. Taylor was really upset about Turtle getting taken away but now knowing that there’s a way that Taylor can get Turtle back she must feel contented.
I agree with Jenni, I think that Taylor will be more cautious as to how she wants Turtle raised, she doesn’t want any bad influence affecting Turtle, I think that Taylor will want to teach Turtle the horrors of the world to make sure Turtle never gets in any situation that involves them and Turtle will grow up to help those in need and will be able to face reality unlike Taylor, from which it was ‘hidden’.
By the way great questions this time Brandon!
-Kianat Zamir
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:24 pm
I think that the event in the park opened Taylor’s eyes and made her see that life is not perfect, and things happen that are out of people’s control. I do think though, that she doesn’t realize that, and thinks she could have done something to help her child. I think that she in vunerable now, because she is worried what will happen to Turtle now. She may listen to what other people have to say, and wonder if what they are saying is something that she should do. I think that she would be most vunerable to advice.
Your second question- I think that I could not easily bounce back. To think that you are rasing this child and someone tells you that you cannot legally own her and then find out where her relatives are. This would be very hard, and I wouldn’t be able to go from thinking I would never be with the child I put all of my time and effort into, to I’m going to find this family and legally adopt her. It would be very hard, and I don’t know if I could be as motivated as Taylor was right away.
Finally, I think that she will raise Turtle more cautiously and with even more care. She may not trust other people with her as much.
-Dan