In “The Secret Life of Bees,” the relationship
between bees and humans is present within the entire novel. Bees are present throughout the story and are
Lily’s guide in her journey of discovering who she really is.
Bees
symbolize rebirth, exploration, maturation, and personal growth. When Lily arrived at the Boatwright household
she was immediately welcomed, especially by August. In a way, August was a mother figure to
Lily. The queen bee, the leader of the
hive, symbolizes August. Like August,
the queen holds the clan together and is their leader and role model. As the novel goes on, Lily becomes an
accomplished beekeeper which symbolizes her growth as an individual. The bees guide Lily, accompany her, and drive
her forward to learn more about herself.
Throughout
the novel, the Black Mary that the Boatwright sisters worship is a prominent
figure. She symbolizes the importance in
having faith and believing in something larger than life.
In
“The Secret Life of Bees,” life is often compared to everyday situations. This interesting writing style is one of the
many reasons that this novel is life changing and inspirational.
It looks like you’ve made some really good connections! As well, the fact that this book is life changing for you is awesome. Having such as keen interest and passion for the book would make this work seem like a breeze. You’re lucky you chose the right book!
ReplyDelete