S e n t e n c e   O u t l i n e:

Title: Kingsolver's Ideal Family - Not Quite Socratic

Thesis: While Kingsolver values the communal family, she differs from Socrates in that her primary focus is on the maternal force that drives the family.

Topic sentences:

1. Socrates' idea of the collective family is evident in Barbara Kingsolver's work, as well.

2. Kingsolver strongly disagrees with Socrates on the role of the mother in the family.

The introduction paragraph nicely gives needed context for the thesis, which highlights two key ideas: the communal family, and Kingsolver's un-Socratic emphasis. The topic sentences clearly deal with these two ideas, which gives coherence and unity to the paper. Since the class had read the Kingsolver novel as well as Republic Book V, there is no need for much summary of either of those works. The content of the two body paragraphs highlights how events in the novel provide clear evidence in support of the topic sentences. The conclusion paragraph is well-designed to summarize and elaborate on the two main points of the paper. The paper's focus is quite narrow, specific, and clear - an important virtue for a short paper!
 

        In The Republic, Socrates idealized the perfect city. One of the aspects that he deliberated on was the raising of children and family structure. The conclusion reached by Socrates is that no parent will know his own offspring or any child his parents (457 d). It was Socrate's belief that the best atmosphere would be created in a communal upbringing of the city's children. In the same sense, he believed that they should take every precaution to insure that no mother knows her own child (460 c). Not even the mother, the traditional child-rearer, would be permitted to know or have a say in the lives of her own children, but in all of the children as a whole. Likewise, Barbara Kingsolver presents many similar ideas of family in her novel, The Bean Trees. While Kingsolver values the communal family, she differs from Socrates in that her primary focus is on the maternal force that drives the family.

        Socrates' idea of the collective family is evident in Barbara Kingsolver's work, as well. In The Bean Trees, Kingsolver illustrates the many different families that can be present in one's life, and the importance of that communal role. As Maureen Ryan points out, in the different world that [Kingsolver] envisions throughout her fiction, we'd all care for everyone's child (81). In Kingsolver vision, Taylor, Lou Ann, Turtle, and Dwayne Ray can live together as a family, supporting each other physically, spiritually, and mentally. Kingsolver also makes a point to include Taylor befriending Sandy, and how they help each other out by checking up on each other's kids at the mall day-care (67). Sandy is not the only one who helps Taylor out with Turtle; she has a whole support system composed of Lou Ann, Mattie, Edna Poppy and Virgie Mae. All of these little details contribute to Kingsolver underlying message of the varied kinds of families that exist, and the importance they play. Ryan acknowledges that Taylor has always known that a father and mother and 2.3 children don't necessarily make a family (80). Taylor recognizes the existence and importance of makeshift families, and knows what can be gained from the love of others. Kingsolver repeated theme of the extended family and how it benefits and helps one grow, is evident throughout her novel. She uses Taylor to illustrate her belief in Socrates idea of the communal family, and how it is often the best thing for the upbringing of a child.

        Kingsolver strongly disagrees with Socrates on the role of the mother in the family. While Socrates sees no need for a single maternal influence, Kingsolver entire writing centers on the importance of motherhood. When Taylor leaves Kentucky to head out into the world on her own, she leaves behind her mother, who has played a significant role in creating the strong woman that Taylor has become. Taylor frequently comments on the many things she learned from her mother, who urged her to talk to her teacher about the job at the hospital, and encouraged her that barefoot and pregnant was not [her] style (3). Taylor's mother wouldn't allow her daughter to become like all the other girls in their town, but rather, she hoped for her success in life. She was a positive role model, an idea that Socrates didn't consider in his Kallipolis. Taylor also performed in the role of motherhood to Turtle, having the child forced upon her, alone and with no help. Yet she persists, and succeeds in saving the little girl that the doctor had deemed would "fail] to thrive" (123). It is Taylor's role as Turtle's mother that helps Turtle to begin to thrive, and to become a normal little girl again, despite the things that happened to her in her past. Along the way, Taylor meets Lou Ann and becomes a sort of family with her and her son, Dwayne Ray. Together, they support and help each other in raising their two children. Kingsolver focus, however, remains on Taylor's ability and growth as Turtle's mother. Ryan draws the conclusion that Taylor's] commitment to and competence at motherhood develops throughout [the novel (78). While being a mother is not a role that Taylor was perhaps prepared to fill, she learns as she goes, and is able to create a loving and nurturing home for Turtle. The support system gained from having several types of non-traditional families is emphasized, but the role of the mother-child bond is repeatedly stressed as being of central importance. Socrates, in contrast, intends for no close bonds between any one child and mother. Kingsolver choice of the single mother family of Taylor and Turtle that she uses in The Bean Trees illustrates her belief in the value of the mother to the rearing of children in contrast to Socrates multiple mother upbringing.

        While Kingsolver writing involves the Socratic aspect of the good produced by the communal family input to a child's upbringing, she places more emphasis on the role of the individual mother. While Kingsolver is able to recognize the benefits of help from outside sources in the raising of children, she also realizes that the mother should be, and primarily is, the main influence on the life of the child. This is not a negative quality, as Taylor illustrates. Kingsolver seems to be emphasizing further the importance of the mother to her child. Socrates, on the other hand, does not acknowledge or consider the good that is to be gained by the eternal bond of mother and child, nor does he consider this bond when speculating on the possibility of his city. Kingsolver creates a much more realistic image of an ideal family - one that is nurturing and loving, while also teaching the child the basic necessities for survival. While his idea of a communal role is emphasized, Socrates idea of how motherhood should be handled is debunked by the powerful presentation by Kingsolver in The Bean Trees.

Kingsolver, Barbara. The Bean Trees. New York : Harper, 1988.

Plato. The Republic. Classics of Moral and Political Theory. 2nd ed. Michael L. Morgan.

        Indianapolis : Hackett Publishing Company, 1996. 32 - 246.

Ryan, Maureen. "Barbara Kingsolver's Lowfat Fiction." Journal of American Culture 18.4

        (1995) : 77 - 82.

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