Final Essay

Miranda Pedro

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Final Essay

The novel “Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd is a very well written novel that deals with a lot of racism and change in a young girl named Lily's life. Lily lived with her dad in a small town called Sylvan in South Carolina. Lily runs away with her house keeper and moves in with 3 black sisters where she can truly be happy.

Lily Owens is a very mature 14 year old girl who lives with her dad that she calls T-Ray and her house keeper Rosaleen. She is not happy with her life at all. Her mother died when she was only 4. Lily has to deal with the fact that she accidentally killed her mother with a gun that she picked up when Lily was hiding in her mothers closet. Lily has always wanted to know more about her mother but T-Ray refuses to talk about her. T-Ray isn't a good father to Lily. Lily is scared to talk to T-Ray about anything. She doesn't want to upset him and have to kneel on grits like she usually has to. They don't have a good relationship at all and Lily has had enough of T-Ray bullying her everyday.

Lily and Rosaleen are on the run from Sylvan to Tiburon where Lily thinks her mother knew someone there. Lily has to watch people getting beaten for the colour of their skin. She is always scared to stick up for herself and others because of what could possibly happen to her if she does. Lily and Rosaleen move in with August, June and May Boatwright, 3 black sisters, in their bright pink house in Tiburon. August teaches her things that T-Ray may have never even suggested. Lily was always taught to just be quiet and that her opinion didn't matter. Lily was taught to be brave and polite from all of the sisters. The 3 sisters all taught Lily different things. If it weren't for them, Lily would have been miserable for her whole life living with T-Ray.

The 3 sister, August especially, all teach Lily important things that will happen to her in her life. Lily is able to talk about anything without getting punished. Lily has so much more confidence in herself and others too. Lily loves working with the sisters on their bee farm. She loves her live much more now that she doesn't have to deal with T-Rays unbearable punishments everyday. Lily is much more cheerful and always has a big smile stretched across her face.

The 3 sisters have had a huge impact on Lily's life. She doesn't have to be scared to talk about things now. If Lily never ran away to Tiburon, she would have never met these 3 amazing women. She would still be unhappy living with T-Ray and getting pushed around everyday. They allowed Lily and Rosaleen to stay with them. They love her with all their hearts. They are definitely the best people that could have ever came into her life. Lily never really had a childhood but now that she is living with these women, she can live her life as a kid normally should.