Rosaleen
Daise is a strong-hearted black women, who through her actions helps
Lily understand love and courage. When Lily's mother died, Rosaleen took
care of Lily, acting as a motherly figure. She provides thoughtful
advice, cares deeply for Lily and promises to stay by Lily's side no
matter what she encounters. She speaks her mind clearly, openly, and
without self-censorship. Proud and determined, Rosaleen quickly stands
up for herself and does not take abuse from anyone. She ends up getting
arrested as a result. Lily breaks Rosaleen out of jail and the two of
them travel together to Tiburon, where they meet the Boatwright sisters.
Rosaleen encourages Lily to come clean with August, even if it means
they will have to abandon their new life in Tiburon. Originally, Lily
felt she was better than Rosaleen because of Lily's prejudices but she
comes to see Rosaleen as an amazing and courageous Women.
Another
very influential female figure for Lily is August Boatwright. Like
Roasaleen, August acts as a motherly figure for Lily and a trusted
friend. She is unique women. Not only is she a black woman in the South
who runs a successful business but she is a black woman who also owns a
great deal of property and is educated. August welcomes Lily and
Rosaleen into her home. August lives in a pink house in Tiburon, South
Carolina, with her two sisters, May and June. August works as a
beekeeper on a 28-acre farm. By selling honey, she supports herself, her
sisters, as well as Lily and Rosaleen once they come to stay at her
house. August decided not to marry because it would take away some of
her independence. August is the type of person that is easy to talk to.
When Lily was ready to talk about her mother, August was ready to
listen.She is a warm, accepting person, she teaches Lily about
spirituality, as well as beekeeping and love. She guides Lily on her way
to maturity and accepting herself as a good human being.
Like
Rosaleen and August, Zachary Taylor is a positive and strong model for
Lily. Zach is a caring, loving and passionate young man who fights for
what he believes in. Zach is a black teenager who works on the honey
farm assisting August with her beekeeping. He's a smart and talented
football player who has aspirations to become a lawyer, even though at
that time there were not many black lawyers. Zach wants to do well
because of his brains, not because of his athletic abilities. After he
meets Lily, the two of them become fast friends and later fall in love.
When Zach is arrested for a crime he did not commit, he becomes angry
and concerned with civil rights. One day Zach says to Lily, “Nobody will
believe how hard I'm gonna study this year. That jail cell is gonna
make me earn grades higher than I ever got. And when this year is over,
nothing can keep me from leaving here and going to College.” This shows
how being arrested did not scare Zach away from his dream, but made him
become even more driven, and more focused on changing the course of his
life. Zach teaches Lily that if she can imagine something she can make
it come true. Zach shows Lily that she is not unlovable.
Lily’s
journey allowed her to meet people who helped her understand that in
spite of how society labels and perceives black people they are no
different from white people. The people she met all had a major positive
influence in Lily’s Life. Rosaleen, August, and Zach all helped Lily
see that she is not unloved. Throughout the novel Lily grows as a person
because of these people learning how to give love, be loved and become a
confident young women.
No comments:
Post a Comment