The poem “The Bean Eaters” by Gwendolyn Brooks is a reflection on aging, simplicity, and the enduring love shared by an elderly couple. The poem portrays an old pair who lead a modest and routine life. They have a simple dinner with plain chip ware on creaking wood and tin flatware. Despite their age, they continue to dress and maintain their daily routines. The couple’s small rented back room is described as cluttered with various items, such as beads, receipts, dolls, tobacco crumbs, and fringes. This imagery suggests a lifetime of accumulated memories and possessions.

“And remembering …
Remembering, with twinkling’s and twinges,
As they lean over the beans
in their rented back room
that is full of beads and receipts and dolls and cloths,
tobacco crumbs, vases and fringes” (Brooks, 1)

The couple’s reminiscing over the beans and the objects in their room suggests a lifetime of experiences and cherished moments. The presence of various items in their rented back room, such as beads, receipts, dolls, tobacco crumbs, vases, and fringes, hints at a rich history and accumulated memories. The act of leaning over the beans triggers a sense of nostalgia, allowing the couple to reflect on their past and the significance of these objects. Overall, the poem emphasizes the role of memory and nostalgia in connecting the couple to their personal history and the meaningful moments they have shared.

Both “The Four Yorkshiremen” (video) sketch by Monty Python and the poem “The Bean Eaters” by Gwendolyn Brooks touch upon the theme of nostalgia and how people reflect on their past experiences. In “The Four Yorkshiremen,” (video) the older men engage in humorous one-upmanship, exaggerating the hardships of their childhoods. This comedic portrayal reflects a common phenomenon where individuals fondly reminisce about challenging times from their past.

Similarly, in “The Bean Eaters,” the elderly couple’s actions of remembering and the cluttered back room filled with objects display a sense of nostalgia. The poem suggests that reminiscing over simple moments and personal possessions connects the couple to their personal history and cherished memories. Both the sketch and the poem highlight the tendency for individuals to view their past through a nostalgic lens, often romanticizing or finding positive aspects in difficult experiences.