Been Trees

The Bean Trees

In the novel The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver, many social issues are discussed.

One social issue that is addressed is adoption. Adopting a child is an experience that promises to bring great joy as it changes a couple or individual’s life forever. Adoption offers a chance at a new beginning for many children previously cared for by orphanages and foster homes. Families constitute the building blocks of society. They provide children with the love and security needed to grow into healthy adults. This paper will discuss how Kingsolver illustrates adoption in her novel.

Taylor was sitting in Cynthia’s office with Turtle. It was their third week of seeing her.

Turtle was talking again, after the incident in the park. As the history of Taylor and Turtle slowly began to seep out of Taylor, Cynthia has no choice but to inform Taylor that she has no legal claim to Turtle because she has no papers on Turtle. She cannot prove the way she got Turtle.

Taylor, felt that if she has no claim to Turtle then no one else should either. The state of

Arizona would take Turtle into custody. Taylor, depending on how long she had been a resident in the state, and depending on her income and stability, might be able to adopt Turtle in the future. Taylor does not know how to respond to this news. She is beginning to think that she will not be a good mother for Turtle. Kingsolver expresses how people may get discouraged, but they are somehow encouraged by the people around them. She conveys this message through the way Taylor feels about her role in Turtle’s life. However, the people in her life help her to realize her love and need for this child. I believe this is a common problem faced by many people who want to adopt. They begin to doubt whether they would be good parents. They have many questions that they need to consider. For example,will they feel like the child’s parents? Or would they treat an adopted child differently than their birth child? Most importantly, will they be able to handle the emotions, if and when, their child wants to meet their birth family? These fears come between the questions and the answers. It thrives on the unknown. In most, the fear is turned around, as exemplified in Taylor’s case.

Another scene that articulates adoption is the scene with Mr. Armistead. Taylor, Turtle,

Estevan and Esperanza were all together.