Lily’s Miraculous Transformation in The Secret Life of Bees Essay Sample

Throughout the book, The Secret Life of Bees, the main character, Lily, underwent many personal changes both physical and emotional. In the book, The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, the main character, Lily, changes and transforms into a whole new person. In the beginning, she was conserved and did not have many friends. When she was 4, she accidentally killed her mother so her dad, T.Ray, had to bring in a nanny, Rosaleen, to take care of her. One day she decides to run away from her abusive dad and live with 3 black women beekeepers, June, May, and August. While there, she learned life lessons and changed as a person. Lily changed and transformed throughout the novel The Secret Life of Bees by becoming stronger, more independent, and making friends, and she gained 8 different mothers after losing her biological mom.

At the beginning of the book, Lily was shocked by the idea of being friends with a black kid. “...sleeping with our bodies twined together to get warm, our arms and legs like black and white braids. This last thought shocked my system so bad I shivered.”(Kidd 124). It shows the thought of her lying with Zach made her jump awake and shake because she couldn’t imagine being that close to a black person. She makes friends and goes to a new school with Zach. She doesn’t care what other people think about her being friends with a black kid. “Sometimes Clayton brings his daughter Becca when he comes… Becca and I watch for Zach in the lunchroom and sit with him every chance we get.”(301 Kidd). This shows Lily is more open to making black friends. She’s getting confident enough to sit with other people in the lunchroom. Throughout the book, Lily grows more comfortable in her skin and she cares less about what other people think and more about her own emotions.

She hasn't had a mother since she was 4 after accidentally killing her. But in the end, she gained 8 amazing mothers who support her no matter what. When Lily killed her mother, she thought that she was unlovable for what she did. “It was my fault she died. I-I killed her… I am unlovable.” (Kidd 241/242). She was telling herself from the beginning that she was unlovable. She didn’t mean to kill her but she still thinks she can’t be loved. In the end, she realizes she had had 8 mothers in the honey house. “And there they were. All these mothers. I have more mothers than any eight girls off the street. They are the moons shining over me.” At this moment, she saw the moons shining over her and she saw she could be loved. August, June, Rosaleen, and all of the girls of the honey house loved her so much. Before when she was with T.Ray, she didn’t feel loved and appreciated like she should have been. It took her a little bit of searching but she finally found the people who care. She finally found the people that loved her.

Throughout the book, Lily matures and changes physically and emotionally. She became more confident, more independent, and picked up 8 moms who care about her on the way. Lily’s lack of confidence and bravery lead her to not become friends with black people and not associate with them. By the end, she gained confidence and realized people of color are just the same as her. She realized racism is just a lack of confidence and ignorance.