On her journey to self-discovery, Taylor Greer manages to overcome her weaknesses and start a new way of life in the novel The Bean Trees, by Barbara Kingsolver. Throughout the novel, one may discover Taylor's process to obtain a better life: to escape, to seek a new way of life, to find adventure, to find love, and to discover oneself by simply to keep moving. Her main objective is to lead a full life and in the process other influential people help her do this and the beans are symbolic of her journey.
             Taylor wants to be mature and be someone that is not just a stereotype, but who lives a full, rich life. Taylor's 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 peoples experiences, mistakes and sacrifices, Taylor's journey made her face reality and find that her weaknesses can not 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 l...