Full of Beans

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2016

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

Chapters 6-10

Chapters 11-15

Chapters 16-20

Chapters 21-24 and Author’s Note

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

Johnny Cakes’s Coffins as Symbols

The coffins that Johnny Cakes brings to Key West from Cuba are especially strong symbols of deceit and directly support the theme of “Deceit and Distrust in Hard Times.” Johnny claims there is a “terrible malaria epidemic in Havana. These poor fishermen got caught up in it I’m afraid […]. I’d just dropped off my cargo, so I volunteered to bring them home so their families here can see them on their way” (15). He plays the noble do-gooder here, so much so that Kermit ironically calls Johnny a “Good Samaritan” and assures him that he will end up in heaven “for sure” (15). The coffins, of course, hold bottles of liquor, illegal because Johnny “refuse[s] to pay the government for a liquor license” (48). The deceit surrounding the coffins extends to Beans’s involvement with Johnny Cakes later in the story as he rings false fire alarms while Johnny moves the coffins back to his boat. At first, Beans rationalizes his role in the deceit as the money he earns will help his family, but the consequences of his deception result in severe damage by fire to his best friend’s home.

Termite as a Symbol

Termite, the stray dog Beans sees following him and Kermit early in the story, symbolizes Beans’s emotions and sense of right and wrong; as such, he supports the theme of “Battles of Conscience.” Termite follows Beans on his way to ring the false alarm the first time, trying to get Beans’s attention and persuade him to stop: “The dog sat on his haunches as wagged his tail at me, drooling” (75). When Beans tells him to go home, Termite looks “confused.”

When school starts, Termite comes to school and barks outside, representing Bean’s irritation and unhappiness with school. After the fire at Pork Chop’s house, the dogcatchers collect Termite and take him to a cage; Beans uses his influence as a local hero to convince the attendant to let him have Termite back. This represents how Beans feels imprisoned by his guilt for the damage the fire caused and how he must now ironically use his false “hero” status to make it up to the Soldanos and others of Key West. Finally, Termite barks at strangers and others he does not trust, symbolizing the way Beans suspects most people, children and adult alike, are capable of telling lies.

Motif of Babies

The motif of babies (and by babies, Beans means toddlers or at least “babies” old enough for the wagon) contributes to Beans’s character. He does not especially love babies, but his mother expects him to tend to Buddy when needed; Beans’s acceptance of this chore and resourcefulness in dealing with Buddy (getting him to nap by putting him in the wagon, confining him to the crib with Nana Philly’s girdle) show his flair for creative problem-solving. He genuinely wants to help Mrs. Albury better deal with Dizzy’s fussiness, so Beans is happy to mix up the cornstarch diaper rash cure. She is so grateful that she brings Beans divinity, kisses him on the cheek, and calls him a lifesaver; his actions here contribute to the theme of “Battles of Conscience,” in that Beans behaves altruistically and shows the “good” person he is inside.

Later, Beans finally hits upon a successful business venture based on his skill and experience with babies: the Diaper Gang. He leads his friends in this entrepreneurial endeavor, and their combined efforts result in profit and renown (with a mention in newspapers as far away as Ohio) and contribute to the theme of “Success Resulting from Teamwork and Unity.”