By Tiffany Ayuda

“The Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd is about the main character, Lily Owens, going through a life-defying adventure. Lily lives on a modest South Carolina peach farm; however, the vague and disturbing memory of her mother dying controls her. In the absence of her mother and the obstinacy of her father, Lily found it difficult to live her life normally. Lily would constantly wonder about wearing nice clothes and fixing her hair, but no one was there to teach her how to be a girl.

Although Lily is left motherless, Rosaleen, who previously worked on the peach farm, becomes Lily’s black “stand-in” mother. Rosaleen is a unique individual who possesses the spunk and wisdom to raise Lily. She is powerful in her words and has an eagerness to learn how to write. Rosaleen devotes her time to practice cursive writing so that she will be able to vote. However, the events that follow do not go according to the plan, and Rosaleen is left beaten in jail. Lily decides to rescue Rosaleen and frees her from jail. As fugitives, Rosaleen and Lily conjure up ways to avoid the law. Rosaleen and Lily put their fates in the sacredness of a relic from Lily’s departed mother. The relic is a small, wooden picture of the Virgin Mary. The handwritten words on the back of the picture read: Tiburon, South Carolina.

Rosaleen and Lily come across three black sisters June, August and Mary Boatwright. When they explain their situation and show the picture of Mary to the sisters, they immediately take Rosaleen and Lily into their home. The three sisters happen to be beekeepers and have a successful business in selling honey and candle wax. They also possess an old picture of Mary that presides in their house. The honey from the bees becomes a symbol of renewing life for Rosaleen and Lily. They would take in honey every morning and night before bed. The honey gives Rosaleen and Lily energy and hope to continue living. In the confidence of the three sisters and Rosaleen, Lily learns to trust and understand the racism and prejudices presiding in the South. The sweltering heat and swarming bees are symbolic of the disunity in the South.

August, June, Mary and Rosaleen become maternal figures in Lily’s life, and ironically, Lily finally feels like everything in her life is in place. Lily’s relationship with strong and powerful women help Lily relive her lost past without a mother. She develops an affinity with these women and the bees. She learns that everything has its purpose and the main battle in life is overcoming weaknesses.

Readers can relate to Lily’s striking reaction to the world around her. Her innocence and goodness is something that compels readers to become understanding and compassionate. Anyone can commiserate with Lily and Rosaleen about the injustice in the world, and what it feels like to be alone and to be ostracized. “The Secret Life Of Bees” is their willingness to work for each other’s benefit. The injustices of the South in this novel teach us the importance of respecting and working with each other.

A novel that depicts injustice in South and teach readers the importance of coexistance. (Image courtesy bn.com)