Women can undertake a journey for many reasons: to escape, to seek a new way of life, to find adventure, to find love, to discover oneself or to simply keep moving. In the novel The Bean Trees by Barabara Kingsolver, Taylor the main character sets off on a journey for all these reasons. On her journey to self-discovery Taylor Greer manages to overcome her weaknesses
The beans that are continually revealed throughout the novel represent Taylor’s life. The earliest mention of the beans took place when Taylor takes a close look at the reality of her life. “I had never done anything more interesting for a living than… picking bugs off somebody’s bean vines for a penny a piece.” (Pg 4) The beans so far are a symbol of Taylor’s weaknesses, as she and the beans are both of poor quality.
Gradually, the beans are becoming of some significance in the novel, since they are truly beginning to echo Taylor’s life. Just as the beans did, Taylor begun her life without a great deal of impact on anyone, only to come plowing up and impact people where they did not expect it. At the end of the novel, the reader again encounters the beans for the last time. Although this time, the reader captures the complete significance of the beans.
The beans, symbolism reflects Taylor’s development throughout her life perfectly. Taylor grew in poor soil and without the influence of the people, whom act like rhizobia that she encounters, she would have never been able to fight her weaknesses and realize her strengths. Taylor grows to become more mature and at the end at the end of the novel the beans reflect Taylors growth. Since, being on her journey to self-discovery, Taylor has encountered many people who have helped her slowly evolve into the person she always wanted to be. Taylor has gotten the most influential support from her mother.
Taylor has lived a life with her mother, to whom everyday has always tried to convince Taylor to succeed and live a good life by giving her the confidence and courage that Taylor needs to get by without becoming pregnant or having her life be destroyed. On her journey Taylor meets Lou Ann a young women whose life is completely contrast to Taylors, other than the fact that they both moved from Kentucky to Arizona. “Ivy brought…her suitcase, which was held together with a leather belt. Lou Ann recognized the belt as the one she had been whipped with years ago, when her father was alive.” (Pg 57) Lou Ann’s upbringing has consisted dominantly of strict men, who did not persuade her reach for her dreams and not to become another stereotype of Arizona, like she did. Since their lives have a number of differences, Taylor gets the chance to assist Lou Ann with her obstacles. She carries this out, by giving Lou Ann the advice, that her mother gave her, when she was growing up. In the end of the novel, Lou Ann ends up being Taylor’s biggest supporter and best friend. In the middle of the novel, Taylor finds a job in Arizona, where she meets a girl named Sandi, whom helps Taylor build her confidence and strength. “She was easy to tease, but I had to give her credit, considering that life had delivered Sandi a truckload of manure with no return address… But nothing seemed to throw Sandi.” (Pg. 65) As a teenager, Sandi ended up as one of those “rudders” who got pregnant, forced to move out and abandoned by her boyfriend. While some rudders like Joleen let her life slip further away, Sandi, always tried to make the best out of what life had to offer her. Taylor respects Sandi for this because Taylor grew up with people who fell into the stereotype of a rudder, while Sandi never did. She always lived a full life. All of the characters lives twine together sometimes not by choice but always with a strong effect on one another.

Even at a young age, Taylor did not want to be like the rudders in Pitman County, “Missy was what everyone called me because when I was three supposedly I stamped my foot and told my own mother to call me…Miss. Marietta.”(Pg2) Taylor wants to be mature and be someone that is not just a stereotype, but whom lives a full, rich life. Taylors defiance in her name, proves that she hasn’t accepted her position in life. After Taylor acquires Turtle, she finds herself not knowing what she is doing and where she is headed in life. “On some days, like that one, I was starting to go a little bit crazy. This is how it is when all the money you have can fit into one pocket, and you have no job, no prospects.” Taylor is questioning her actions and is losing confidence in her. Also, she is very unsure of how she is going to handle certain situations, when it comes to Turtle. Taylor is wearing a mask to hide behind, for she is falling apart on the inside, but is trying to control herself on the outside. Reality is hitting Taylor head on. Later on in the novel, Taylor has accepted her role in life and has become stronger. “Do you know, I spent the first half of my life avoiding motherhood and, tires and now I am counting my blessings?” Taylor has overcome two of her most serious weaknesses; not to get pregnant and tires. From learning from other people’s experiences, mistakes and sacrifices, Taylors journey made her face reality and find that her weaknesses cannot hold her back from life, but make her life more worthwhile. Taylor went on her journey not knowing what to expect, she would have never anticipated that she was going to learn so much and to be of so much importance in other people’s lives.

Throughout the road to self-discovery, Taylor overcomes her weaknesses and progressively becomes stronger with the guidance of unexpected people. Her growth is exposed through her actions and dialogue, her contact with others and the symbolism of the beans.