Hein E

      The Secret Life Of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd. is a novel that shows you can find love in all places. In this novel there is wonderful character filled with so much love, her name is August Boatwright. We learn about all her and her honey filled life.

      When August is first introduced in the novel you find out she is a tall African American. August may be middle aged with many wrinkles but their is still something young about her. Lilly, the protagonist describes August as, " almond-buttery with sweat and sun, her face corrugated with a thousand caramel wrinkles and her hair looking flour dusted, but the rest of her seemed decades younger"(page 72). Lily thinks August to be slimmer then her "stand-in-mother," Rosaleen, but still a voluptuous woman. August also has beautiful eyes hidden behind her rimless glasses, Lily thinks how she has, “Never seen eyes that colour, eyes the purest shade of ginger”(page 74).

     August Boatwright is a worldly woman with the several personality traits. August is one of the kindest character in the novel, The Secret Life Of Bees. We first notice her warm heart when she allows Rosaleen and Lily, which are two strangers to her, into her house. After Lily lies to August about her aunt's going to send money for her to take up a buss to Virginia, August allows her and Rosaleen into her home. August tells Lily that, “Rosaleen can help May in the house, and you can help me and Zack with the bees”(page74) for them to earn their keep. August shows her kindness to everyone but especially her sister Lilly. Lilly is very emotional and when ever she loses control August takes care of her. August acts very calmly and tells May, “That's right, May. Let all that misery slide right off you. Just let it go”(page89), when she was giving May a bath. August's continuous love, generosity and her undying support helps her save her friends and family.

      August Boatwright, from the novel The Secret Life Of Bees, demonstrates she is an independent black woman. She runs her business while dealing with her crazy sister. August is so kind and warm hearted that she allows two complete strangers into her house without making them going into full depth of how they got to Tiburon. August demonstrates how loving others will lead to love in return.