An Eco-Feministic View in Barbara Kingsolver’s The Bean Trees
Eco-feminism traces its beginning from the feminist movements such as the abolition of slavery and restraint for championing the rights of women. Barbara Kingsolver is a contemporary American author. Kingsolver dedicated herself into political and social activism.
She also believes in writing that promotes social change in society. Barbara Kingsolver novel The Bean Trees reflects this commitment. The Bean Trees concerns Taylor Greer, a young woman who leaves her small hometown in Kentucky to search for a more fulfilling life. While driving west across the United States, Taylor becomes the protector of a battered child whom she names Turtle. Taylor and the child finally settle in Tucson, Arizona, where they share the home of Lou Ann Ruiz, a deserted young mother. Kingsolver uses her writing to address social and political issues that are important to her. By creating a society for her women in the novel, Kingsolver is able to bring out the importance of community and the contribution that it makes to the life of everyone.
Kingsolver introduces a feminist issue which focuses on the feminist absurdity of childcare, sexual harassment and the capabilities of women in typically male-dominated workplaces, through the novel The Bean Trees. The Bean Trees depicts to the wisteria vines that grow with the help of rhizobia, which resembles alike that of the bean plant. It also shows the struggle of the plant to survive from the frost, to the blossoms. Like that of the bean plant Kingsolver portrays female characters striving for struggle which flourishes throughout the novel representing the growth of the women against all the troubles and harms.
Eco-feminism explores the symbolic connection with women and nature that appears in different fields like that of religion, spirituality, art, and literature. Documenting such connections and making them integral to the project of Eco-feminism is often considered as Eco-feminism 's most promising contribution to the creation.
She also believes in writing that promotes social change in society. Barbara Kingsolver novel The Bean Trees reflects this commitment. The Bean Trees concerns Taylor Greer, a young woman who leaves her small hometown in Kentucky to search for a more fulfilling life. While driving west across the United States, Taylor becomes the protector of a battered child whom she names Turtle. Taylor and the child finally settle in Tucson, Arizona, where they share the home of Lou Ann Ruiz, a deserted young mother. Kingsolver uses her writing to address social and political issues that are important to her. By creating a society for her women in the novel, Kingsolver is able to bring out the importance of community and the contribution that it makes to the life of everyone.
Kingsolver introduces a feminist issue which focuses on the feminist absurdity of childcare, sexual harassment and the capabilities of women in typically male-dominated workplaces, through the novel The Bean Trees. The Bean Trees depicts to the wisteria vines that grow with the help of rhizobia, which resembles alike that of the bean plant. It also shows the struggle of the plant to survive from the frost, to the blossoms. Like that of the bean plant Kingsolver portrays female characters striving for struggle which flourishes throughout the novel representing the growth of the women against all the troubles and harms.
Eco-feminism explores the symbolic connection with women and nature that appears in different fields like that of religion, spirituality, art, and literature. Documenting such connections and making them integral to the project of Eco-feminism is often considered as Eco-feminism 's most promising contribution to the creation.
Cited: Primary sources: Kingsolver, Barbara. The Bean Trees. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2001. Print. Secondary sources: Merchant, caolyn.“An Introduction to Ecofeminist Thought.” Morning-earth.nd. web. 12 jan 2013. Williams, Nancy. “Feminist Ethics.” Feminism- ethics. First published Tue May 12, 1998; revised Mon May 4, 2009. Web. 12 jan 2013.