The Bean Trees Lesson Plan

What is the significance of the quail in the road in Chapter 7?

On their way back from a day of swimming and picnicking, Estevan is driving carefully to avoid being stopped by police, which would be dangerous for an undocumented immigrant. Suddenly he does stop, but for a quail in the middle of the road. The group watches as the quail attempts to corral her chicks, who are running in every direction. Taylor relates to the quail, who she describes a a "poor mother" with "enough to deal with." She is touched by Estevan's compassion in stopping for the bird when his own safety is on the line. Estevan becomes a man who cares for women, especially mothers, in her mind.

What is...