The Bean Trees: Imagery

For this project I chose to read The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. It became clear to me early on in the book that imagery was the main literary element. I believe the author used imagery frequently throughout the book for two main reasons; to describe the characters physical appearance, and the unique setting. Kingsolver clearly described every character Taylor encountered no matter how important to the plot they were. She did this to give the reader a feel for what kind of person they were without having as much dialogue. For example, Turtle's doctor was described as fifty-ish and a little tired looking with slumped shoulders and socks with tiny sea horses on the ankles. This gives the reader a picture in their mind, as well as an opinion on the character. His slumped shoulders and tiredness indicate that he works hard, and his socks could be a sign that he is fun-loving, or wearing them because he is a children's doctor.

Meanwhile, Kingsolver illustrates the setting in great detail. Throughout the book, Taylor is far from her home in Kentucky, and not accustomed to her surroundings in Arizona. The author uses imagery to make the setting come to life, so that the reader understands how strange and beautiful the new sights must be for Taylor, even if the they have never been there. Not only this, but the descriptions help the reader get lost in the book and escape from reality. Kingsolver paints a picture of every person and every scene, drawing you deeper into Taylor's world.