e. The theme that is brought up several times throughout the novel is that of a symbiotic relationship. The Wisteria plant that lives in the arid park has an ideal relationship with the rhizobia bacteria. Without this helpful parasite the plant would not be able to grow. Next, the concept of a symbiotic relationship is displayed with the relationship of Taylor and Lou Ann. Taylor helps Lou Ann with her confidence and her nervousness while Lou Ann gives Taylor the support she needs to be a cautious and successful mother. Another example of an interdependent relationship is how Edna Poppy and Virgie May Parsons relies on each other. Virgie May has to lead the blind Mrs. Poppy wherever she walked, such as a walk through the park, and Edna seems to somehow control Virgies offensive personality (Ross). The Male character that has a symbiotic relationship is Estevan. He depends on his wife Esperanza as much as she depends on him. Their child was taken from them and they must be support for each other or they will fall apart. The Guatemalan Government had stole her and was keeping her like a worm on a hook (Kingsolver 152). It seems that one could not manage without the other. Estevan needs a symbiotic relationship as much as any female character just to be able to have enough strength to go on living. Marietta Greer felt that she had to change her name before she traveled to a new place and began a new stage of her life. Even though Marietta and Taylor are the same person, the name Taylor gives her the identity that she wants; without it she would not be as confident and maybe not even as successful in her transformation from an immature person into a responsible adult. When Esperanza and Estevan move to Tucson they also change their names. Esperanza changes her name to Hope and Estevan changes his to Stephen. Estevan feels that he must change his name as much as both female characters to have a new identity ...
