In the novel, The Bean Trees, Taylor goes through many obstacles to become independent.

In The Bean Trees Taylor's work to become independent starts when she gets her first job. In this quote she says “He did this by getting me a job. I had never done anything more interesting for a living than help Mama with the for-pay ironing on Sunday's and look after the brats of the people she cleaned for. Or pick bugs off somebody's bean vines for a penny apiece. But this was a real job at the Pittman County Hospital, which was one of the most important and cleanest places for about a hundred miles”(kingsolver 9). In this quote Taylor realizes she's never done any type of real job. She realizes that she's never really had a life outside of Mama.