Bean Trees Link

I was really intrigued by the topic of illegal immigration that was presented in the novel. Because of this, I began to research articles. Many of the articles are from the governments' point of view and therefore do not allow any insight into the thought process of the illegal immigrants. Due to the focus on the struggles of illegal immigrants I really liked this article because it was a personal story from an illegal immigrant. Also, it talks about the current struggles that the immigrants face also because of the recession, which was extremely interesting and unique.

Bean Trees 2

I think that Lou Ann and Taylor are foil characters. This is because while they both go through the same things, such as raising a child while being a single mother, they are opposite in their demeanor. While Taylor is tough and does not worry too often, Lou ann is often a pushover and panics about the most insignificant things. In addition, while Taylor falls in love with Estevan, who was sweet, Lou Ann is in love with Angel, who treats her very poorly. Lou Ann and Angel's relationship therefore, is a more negative and typical depiction of men and women's relationship. This is because Lou Ann blindly follows Angel, despite his mistreatment of her (when he calls she says that she would have to move back in with her because he was her husband even though he didn't act like it. This is Also in the second half of the book however, it became clear that despite Taylor's facade that she puts on for herself, and everyone else, she is actually very naive. Taylor did not understand what Mattie meant when she said that sometimes illegal immigrants got there hurt, didn't realize Edna was blind, and also could not even comprehend the hardships that people such as Estevan had to endure. The plight of illegal immigrants becomes more dramatic and prominent in the second half of the story. Esperanza tries to kill herself, and Taylor finds out about the reasons that Estevan and Esperanza had to leave Guatemala. In addition, Taylor loses the two as friends, when they must flee Arizona in order to escape the U.S. government. This heartless depiction of the government towards illegal immigrants creates an anti- American vibe. The only good man in the story (Estevan) is also from Guatemala, and not the U.S. and also, the Americans are depicted as extremely unsympathetic. I think that in general, Lou Ann's character growth was the most drastic. This is because she begins to realize more the mistreatment of women and in the end is fine being alone. Taylor also, undergoes some changes, as she realizes that she doesn't always need to act tough. She also accepts the fact that Lou Ann and Dwayne Ray have become her family in an unconventional sense. Turtle's obsession with vegetables and green trees also becomes more important. The title comes into play on a magnificent day when Lou Ann, Dwayne Ray, Taylor, and Turtle are all playing in the park. Turtle observes the wisteria tree and says "Bean Trees" because this is what the tree will become. At the end of the book when Taylor and Turtle are looking through the Encyclopedia, they read that wisteria thrive in poor soil, and together with Rhizobia they make miracles. Because of this, I think that the Bean Trees symbolize miracles and happiness because both times that they were mentioned Taylor was content with herself and her daughter and her life.

Bean Trees 1

This book, although is not my favorite book is decent, and extremely strong in its depiction of the plot. From the beginning, pregnancy, and motherhood, and the burdens of being a woman are evident everywhere. Lou Ann had a child, Turtle becomes Taylor's child, everyone at Taylor's school drops out because they are pregnant. I also find the comments Taylor's comments about men extremely foretelling, as they portray her view of men and also the universal view of men for women living during this time. The title is also mentioned a few times in the first half of the book. The first time it is mentioned, when Taylor is informing Mattie of her occupational talents including picking bugs off ben trees. She said that this moment when talking to Mattie was the beginning of things she couldn't believe. It is also mentioned because Turtle's first word is bean. This becomes one of the first and only things so far that Taylor can use to connect with Turtle. In addition, it parallels the women in society because if they are cared for then they will grow into plants, but if not then they are doomed. All of the women that Taylor surrounds herself with are strong women (Mattie owns her own business, Lou Ann is a single mother, Taylor has a strong personality, and Esperanza although may seem shy and timid can always connect with people). The presence of men on the other hand is usually depicted in a negative sense. When Angel comes back to pack up his stuff, Lou Ann says, "He could be there, or not, and it hardly made any difference, " (65). In addition, Taylor says about men, "I don't think there's an installation out there that could use all of my parts, " (92). Both of these quotes show these women's willingness and ability to be stronger than and rise above men. Also, Taylor is upset at Lou Ann because she feels as if the rut they find themselves in is one of a family, which she does not want. Instead, Taylor seeks to create her own life. The language is not particularly engrossing, but it is unique in the fact that it incorporates many corny and off- kilter expressions and also uses metaphors. It is obvious that Taylor is an iconoclast and uses southern language when she narrates. In addition, the relationship between Taylor and Lou Ann is extremely unique. This is because at the time it was not normal for two single mothers to be living together. They share the burdens that they each encounter as women, but they are amazing because they can support themselves and share an extremely strong bond. Another underlying theme may be the brutalities faced by illegal immigrants. Although it is not that prominent in the first half of the novel, its' presence becomes more and more constant as Mattie houses them in her house and I believe that Esperanza and her husband are illegals from Guatemala as they lie about their names at Lou Ann's dinner party. The women are also racist and do not respect the Indian or other races' presence in America. In a sense, Turtle and Taylor are alike because Taylor's new name erased her new identity and Turtle does not have an identity. Also they are both "The one[s] to get away," which is the name of the first chapter. The fact that Turtle was sexually abused even though she was so young, reinforces Taylor's perception of the mistreatment and oppression of women at all ages (they can all relate to one another).

The Bell Jar 2

I just finished the book and i definitely did not enjoy it as much as Catcher and the Rye. I do think however, that the depiction of the asylum was sad because it was obviously realistic, but the treatments were so dehumanizing for the patients. the lobotomy, that although she did not have to go through. but that i have researched was terrible, and so were the injections given to Esther and the shock treatments. like Holden in Catcher, Esther was suspicious of everyone as she questioned everything that everyone did including the doctors. in this case however, i think that her suspicions were more justified because of the treatments that these doctors were given. also like catcher, i think that the part of the protagonists' mental downfall had to do with the death of her loved one (in this case it was of her father and in Catcher it was Holden's brother). because both of them avoided mourning, they were never able to be alleviated of their feelings. in addition, i felt like so many powerful, women were put in the asylums. Esther had been a smart woman (she got a scholarship) and Philomena Guinea was a powerful and intelligent writer who also spent time in an asylum. the women were outcasts and had little hope of finding husbands after they left the asylum. in addition, women were put in asylums for the most insignificant differences (they didn't want to be ruled by men, they were lesbians), and were not treated correctly. in the second half of the book, the significance of the title was also revealed. Esther said that she "is sitting in a glass bell jar no matter where she goes" and later on says that "to the person in the bell jar, blank and stopped as a dead baby, the world itself is the bad dream." the bell jar causes the situation of women both insane and not at that time, (she says that the college girls are also under the bell jar). the girls are creating a euphemism of their situation because they don't recognize the seriousness of their suicide attempts (both Joan and Esther). the idea of babies is also prominent as she is in the maternity wing twice (with buddy and when she is volunteering). also, she does not like the prospect of having a baby and because the women's brain cells are being killed by some of the hospital treatments, their minds become more and more childlike. the ego and id was also mentioned by Joan's psychologist, and the women in the asylums had a sister-like connection (Esther and Miss Norris)that was similar to the tacit understanding shared between the soldiers in All Quiet on the Western Front (both groups were the only ones that understood and comprehended what they were going through).

The Bell Jar Link

While reading the Bell Jar, I was intrigued by the fact that the novel was a partial autobiography. Because of this, I did some research on the author (Sylvia Plath) and I found out that she was for the most part a poet, and the Bell Jar was her only novel. Therefore, I looked up some of her poems. I liked a few of them, but this particular poem stuck out to me because it was her interpretation of Wuthering Heights, another book we read this year.