The Beet Queen Themes

This Study Guide consists of approximately 52 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Beet Queen.

The Beet Queen Themes

This Study Guide consists of approximately 52 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Beet Queen.
This section contains 1,152 words
(approx. 3 pages at 400 words per page)
Buy The Beet Queen Study Guide

Abandonment

Abandonment is a theme in the novel that begins, not with Mary and Karl, but with their mother, Adelaide. Adelaide is in love with a married man who pays for her home in exchange for being allowed to visit her as often as he can get away. When he dies, Adelaide finds herself homeless and penniless since her lover kept Adelaide's home in his name. Adelaide feels abandoned and desperate. Adelaide is also pregnant. Unable to fend for herself or her children, Adelaide abandons them just as her lover did her. Adelaide boards a plane for a ride and never returns.

Mary does the only thing she knows to do, she runs to her mother's sister in Argus, North Dakota. Mary is accepted with open arms by all but her cousin, Sita. However, Mary is also abandoned by her brother Karl, who runs away before the two of...

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This section contains 1,152 words
(approx. 3 pages at 400 words per page)
Buy The Beet Queen Study Guide
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The Beet Queen from Gale. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.