The Bean Trees Lesson Plan

Whom does Lou Ann buy tomatoes from? Why do you think Kingsolver included this side story?

After her mother and grandmother leave town, Lou Ann buys tomatoes from a man, Bobby Bingo, selling produce from his truck. Lou Ann thinks his tomatoes look much better than the ones in the grocery store--they remind her of the produce from home. Bobby Bingo is conversational and tells Lou Ann all about his son, Bill Bing, who owns a big car dealership in town. The father is disappointed in his son--he's rich, but he doesn't use his real name and looks down on his father now. This story emphasizes the importance of respecting one's roots. Bobby warns Lou Ann that "whatever you want...