In the novel The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd the protagonist Lily matures and progresses throughout the novel, learning new skills and tips. When Lily finds out a terrifying truth about her mother she tries not to believe it and runs away. Taking her house maid, who recently was put in jail, with her she travels to a city which she thinks can help her find the truth about her mother. As she goes through this life changing adventure she changes in many ways, in one way she gains confidence
south during the 1960’s? How about to live with bees? Sue Mont Kidd got to encounter both of these things while pursuing her innate talent to write. Her childhood memories and ambitions, experiences with bees, and the social climate of the south left an imprint on Sue Monk Kidd, as evident in the coming-of-age novel The Secret Life of Bee. Kidd’s childhood memories and ambitions took a toll on her novel The Secret Life of Bees. Lily and Kidd had many minute similarities, but they were the kinds of
to the Quest Pattern, Lily, the antagonist in Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees, comes of age quite elegantly. She has to face some harsh situations that set her journey in motion, acquire knowledge about her past and present, and find a reward during this journey. While Lily’s quest isn’t easy, she finds that “…nobody is perfect. [And] How you just have to close your eyes and breathe out and let the puzzle of the human heart be what it is.” (Kidd 285). To prove that she is coming of age, she
“The Secret Life of Bees” By Sue Monk Kidd In the novel, “The Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd, the story reflects the time when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was approved. Tension is rising in the southern states of the United States where most of the people there are against this bill. One of these states is South Carolina where the story takes place. It tells the story of Lily a fourteen year old girl living in Sylvan, South Carolina with her abusive father called T.Ray and a black maid named
been (15). With that, she ventures off with her nanny to find out if her mother did indeed go there. Not many books can really catch my attention; however, this book did just that. “The plotting is subtle and careful and exquisitely executed, enabling Kidd not just to make her points about (the irrationality of racism and the power of female community), but to tell a memorable story while she does” (Kephart 62). She demonstrates how emotional the irrationality of racism really can be when Rosaleen, Lily’s
In the story of Secret Life of Bees written by Sue Monk Kidd there are many characters that I would admire. Sue Monk Kidd makes August Boatwright the oldest of the sisters the most admirable. In saying that, August is definitely the most encouraging, she is so on top of everything, she has her life together, her house is always clean, she successfully runs a company, and she has lots of inspiring quotes. This wise woman is like a queen bee to her sisters, she is the most influential person because
Sue Monk Kidd’s book, The Secret Life of Bees has an epigraph in every chapter that parallels the events in the story. In Chapter 14 the epigraph says, “A queenless colony is a pitiful and melancholy community; there may be a mournful wail or lament from within. Without intervention, the colony will die. But introduce a new queen and the most extravagant change takes place. - The Queen Must Die; And Other Affairs of Bees and Men” ( Kidd 277 ). The epigraph in Chapter 14 is related to the chapter
“Write what you know.” Sue Monk Kidd’s novel The Secret Life of Bees is a prime example of Mark Twain’s quote. As many great authors do, she found ways to channel herself and her many childhood memories into her writing. She tells readers of her many odd habits—ranging from curling hair in juice cans to listening to bees at night—through the eyes of the main character, Lily. Lily’s many ambitions and outlandish experiences growing up as a southern girl parallel Kidd’s own life (Kidd, “The Secret Life
Literary Analysis Sue Monk Kidd’s first novel The Secret Life of Bees was a literary success. Although, Sue didn’t just get successful on luck all of the sudden. In the Secret Life of Bees, Sue brought together many elements in order to complete her novel. Some elements include Sue's input of Southern Style Language, the aspects of the main character Lily's voice, and the inclusion of imagery. One crucial element contributed is Sue's style of writing. In the Secret Life of Bees Sue not only sets the
Problem Solving in The Secret Life of Bees In literature, authors often show people who solve their problems by talking them out. In the book The Secret Life of Bees Sue Monk Kidd shows characters that solve their problems by talking them out. When the main character, Lily Owens faces her problem by talking things out with her father T.Ray she becomes more independent and was able to stay where she was like she wanted to in the beginning of the book. When Lily talks things out with August she solves
In The Secret Life of Bees written by Sue Monk Kidd and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn written by Mark Twain are two novels that both portray young white protagonist dealing with racial tension. In the book, Secret Life of Bees, it tells a story about a fourteen-year-old girl, Lily Owens, who is haunted by memories of her mother and abusive father, T-Ray. She runs away with her African American caregiver, Rosaleen, to Tiburon, South Carolina town to explore her mother’s past. That was the last
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd is a book discussing the internal strife of a young white girl, in a very racist 1960’s south. The main character, Lily Owens, faces many problems she must overcome, including her personal dilemma of killing her own mother in an accident. Sue Monk Kidd accurately displays the irrationality of racism in the South during mid- 1960's not only by using beautiful language, but very thoroughly developed plot and character development. Kidd shows the irrationality
different aspects of “finding yourself,” the human identity and reveals how people struggles with the mistakes they make and the pain that’ll come afterward. Sue Monk Kidd, the author illustrates the major theme of accepting the truth and forgiving others in order to grow up and the power of the female community, through Lily Owens experiences. Sue Monk Kidd shows us that it’s hard for people to accept the truth and most of all to forgive others for their wrongs. She shows us the struggle of facing the truth
to act as her guardian. Together, Lily and Rosaleen run away to Tiburon, South Carolina and find a welcoming community. It is in Tiburon that Lily learns many life lessons, including many about herself. In her novel The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd explores a theme of spiritual growth through Lily's search for home as well as a maternal figure. The bees symbolize Lily’s unspoken guides throughout the novel. Kidd’s constant reference to the bees indicate that Lily eventually understands the
America when she was growing up. The novel is based on Kidd's personal experiences of growing up in the segregated south. She puts her personal experiences of growing up in the novel to show how bad of an issue segregation was while she was growing up. Kidd used specified memories and social matters in her novel to show you how her life was as a child. She was an immensely religious woman and this is shown throughout the novel by the characters of the Boatwright sisters. Using the Boatwright sisters in
world?” (121). In Sue Monk Kidd’s novel, The Secret Life of Bees, the protagonist character named Lily Owens is a girl who is confused. She is pulled in many directions in her life. Some conflicts Lily runs into are the people around her and herself. In Lily’s life, she lives in a world that is unrealistic. She tries to avoid life and the problems that come with it. Sooner or later, Lily faces life straight into its eyes and takes it all at once. In the beginning of the novel, Kidd shows the tension
wants to escape from? A home that isn’t really a home. More often than not, this is the situation children are faced with. In the novel "The Secret Life of Bees", Sue Monk Kidd expresses how dysfunctional families can cause distress through pain, fear, and rebellion. Pain is a feeling that, on some levels, can become indescribable. Kidd manages to quite accurately express that feeling through the lens of a fourteen year-old girl, Lily Owens. Judith Hebb, author of the article Religious Imagery in
Syrah Lutchmansingh Mr. Warren Lit/6 11 January, 2017 Independent Reading Literary Analysis The novel, The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, was published by Viking Penguin in 2002. This fictional coming of age novel has 302 pages and is a great read for young adults and adults alike. The story is set in South Carolina in the year 1964 and is told in the first person point of view. The protagonist and narrator, a 14 year old girl named Lily Owens, has an internal, man versus man conflict
Age” Do you ever wonder how much you have changed in the past year? Not just physically, but in every aspect. Lily Owens in The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd matures throughout the novel. Lily Owens matures because of her spiritual development. Also, she matures because of her social consciousness and her relationship with Zach. Sue Monk Kidd portrays the theme “coming of age” as difficult in The Secret Life of Bees. The first example of Lily’s coming of age is in her spiritual development
The overall message of The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd is motherhood. Motherhood was used throughout the novel. The director remains true to the main theme. She enhances the theme by frequently reminiscing, the memories of the character mother in each chapter. The main character name is Lily Owens and she holds a very dark secret. When she was young her parents got into a huge altercation. Lily’s mom grabbed a gun from the bed. While Lilly’s mom was trying to get the gun, Lily’s dad T.