Quotes From The Bridge By Barbara Kingsolver

This passage begins with Taylor talking about how hard life can be in ways she never knew about, even after experiencing a difficult life herself. Kingsolver uses the quote, “‘I don’t know exactly how to say this,’ I said. ‘I thought I’d had a pretty hard life. But I keep finding out that life can be hard in ways I never knew about’” (Kingsolver 181) to indirectly characterize Taylor. The quote shows that Taylor has faced many challenges in her life but realizes that there are still many hardships out there. This quote shows her humility and openness to learning through new experiences. Estevan’s response, “I can see that it would be easier not to know,” (Kingsolver 181) uses diction to express a tone of empathy. He understands the struggles

Taylor feels that Estevan is unfairly assuming that all Americans are responsible for the actions of their government. Taylor feels bad for turning a blind eye to the government sending out, “shiploads of telephones to torture people with” (Kingsolver 181). Taylor uses the metaphor to convey how dangerous technology can be and how it can harm others. While Taylor feels guilty, she also realizes that she is not directly at fault because “nobody asked my permission” (Kingsolver 181). This conversation between the two characters shows how once people are aware of certain things, they have to choose whether to confront the situation or remain silent. This characterizes Taylor as someone who is struggling to find her place. She is conflicted between Estevan’s criticism of the government’s actions and her own experiences in life. The use of irony in this passage reveals how complex and unpredictable life can be. Ironically, Taylor said, “Sometimes I feel like I’m a foreigner too,” (Kingsolver 181) because even though she is American, she feels like an

Taylor’s experiences relate to the thematic topic of community support. With the help of her new friends, Taylor slowly adjusts to her new home and faces the challenges that come when trying to adapt to a new environment. Taylor is having an internal conflict because she is struggling to fit into her environment. She is uncertain and scared, which creates tension within her throughout the novel. Kingsolver uses figurative language when Taylor says, “You would think you’d stepped right off the map into some other country where they use dirt for decoration and the national pastime is having babies” (Kingsolver 181). This hyperbole shows the tremendous difference between Kentucky and Arizona. Taylor is struggling to adjust to her new surroundings and a new way of life. Taylor is telling Estevan how different everything is in Arizona compared to her hometown. She tells him, “People don’t look the same, talk the same, nothing” (Kingsolver 181). This quote expresses how much Taylor is struggling. She notices the differences in people’s appearance and the way they communicate, which reveals her sense of