The Bean Trees Character Analysis

Juliette Williams
Mr. Gracyk
English 11: A Block
20 September 2015
Meaningful Names Over the summer, St. Francis High School juniors were required to read Barbara Kingsolver's The Bean Trees. The protagonist of the novel, Marietta Greer, who is also known as Missy, lives with her mother, Alice Greer, in Pittman County, Kentucky. During high school, Missy is hired for a job at Pittman County Hospital. Within the first few years she worked at the hospital, Missy saves up enough money to buy a '55 Volkswagen Bug, intending to leave her hometown in Kentucky. Eventually she arrives in Taylorville, Oklahoma, where she changes her name to Taylor Greer. In Taylorville, she stops to eat at a diner, where she is given a toddler by an Indian woman, who

Esperanza's name specifically describes her situation. Estevan explains to Taylor that he and Esperanza lost their child, Ismene, during a raid in their hometown, Guatemala. Afterwords, Taylor visits Esperanza, hoping to lift her spirits by responding, "I think Esperanza's a beautiful name. Estevan told me that it means to wait, and also to hope. That in Spanish the same word means both things” (155). The words “to hope” seem to apply, not only to Esperanza’s name, but her circumstances, too. Esperanza must rely on hope to help herself through this difficult journey. Without hope, Esperanza’s prolonged depression would worsen with time. Esperanza’s name may also mean “to wait.” Esperanza has been longing to see her child and to become a family once again, but she must wait and be patient for the time being. Taylor also attempts to motivate Esperanza in her time of need: “Esperanza is all you get, no second chances. What you have to do is try to think of reasons to stick it out” (156). Taylor attempts to inspire Esperanza by giving her the “hope” she needs to move past this difficult time. This “hope” is necessary for Esperanza’s healing journey. After Esperanza, Estevan, Turtle, and Taylor pass the border line, Estevan explains to Taylor, "Our true first names are Indian names... you couldn't even pronounce them. We chose Spanish names when we moved to the city" (204). Estevan and Esperanza select the Spanish form

Their selection of new names are hiding their past, but at the same time, representative of their future. Similarly, my great aunt’s name had an impact upon her life, as well as others. My great aunt, Ilene, had decided to change her name to Elizabeth, after graduating from William and Mary College as a English History major. My great aunt’s many family members thought this was an odd and irrational decision to suddenly change her name. Since she is an English History major and a great admirer of Queen Elizabeth I, my great aunt desired a unique name that reflects her love for the subject of her future. After careful thought, my family had come to realize how this choice is important to her new identity. My name also has a meaningful impact upon my life. My middle name, Christine, is connected to my grandmother’s first name. My mother chose the name Christine to honor my Grandmother, whom she strives to model each day, as do I. I am very blessed to have inherited her name and hope someday to obtain my grandmother’s courage, hospitality, wisdom, and kindness. In conclusion, a name defines who a person is and helps create the identity of a human being, which can influence how he or she is perceived by others. A name can never be taken away from oneself or others. If human beings did not have their own names, they are no longer individually unique.