Draft One

Although they're just beans, they symbolize things with much more meaning, and that is just how Kingsolver uses them in the novel The Bean Trees. Throughout the story, several refrences to beans are made.
When a small, hard shelled seed is given love and care, it can sprout into a thriving plant. Turtles first word was "bean". Growing up with harsh conditions of neglet and abuse, Turtle is a small, closed off child. Like a bean given love and affections, Turtle began growing up like a normal little girl, learning to speak and understanding the people around her.
Like people, beans can't just thrive anywhere though; they need to be in the right environment to support them throughout their growth. People need others to help them throughout their life. Turtle needs Taylor, and Taylor also needs Turtle although she may not realize it.
Beans are also a symbol of how beautiful things can thrive while everything surrounding them are not so beautiful; as if the beans are a miracle. In the back of Mattie's yard "The purple beans appeared to go trooping down the block, climbing over anytyhing in their path" (Kingsolver 61). Taylor, decided she was better than anything she could find her town, and decided to do something about it. Like the beans, Taylor became something thriving compared to the rest of the people around her.
Overall, i believe the beans give the promise that no matter what happens, no matter how bad any situation or surrounding is, that with love, care, and determination you can turn anything into something beaufitul and thriving.