The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd Book Analysis

World Connection: In the novel, The Secret Life of Bees, August stood up for Lily in many ways. Would you ever stand up for someone like that? 

August Boatwright is a brave and independent woman. I wish I was as strong as her. I do not think I would ever be able to stand up for someone like the way August did. August let a white girl stay in her house. If I saw a little girl knocking on my door like that, I would call the cops and let the cops take care of the situation. August was brave to start her own honey business. When T. Ray came to get Lily, August stopped T. Ray. I am not brave enough to stop a man from taking back his own child. I would stand up for people, but I do not think I would ever be able to do what August did for Lily. 

Theme: In The Secret Life of Bees, Zach and Lily have forbidden love. How does the theme of the book affect their relationship? 

One of the themes of The Secret Life of Bees is racism. Zach and Lily’s forbidden love shows us that during that time people were not allowed to be together due to their skin color. Zach and Lily both expressed their feelings for one another, but they knew society would not let them be together, and it was riskier for Zach because he was a black boy and while Lily was a white girl (Kidd Pg.135).

Literary Analysis: Sue Monk Kidd shows us many motifs throughout the story. Do the symbols in the story enhance the theme? 

The symbols in the story truly enhance the theme. Sue Monk Kidd uses bees to represent us, the people. The hive represents our society. This symbol improves the theme because one of the themes of the story is racism. When the queen dies, it can be replaced. In the beginning, it will seem awkward, but slowly, the rest of the bees will get used to with their new queen. Just like that, if we ignore the skin color, and see the color inside of us, the world would be a better place to live. It will take time to get used to it, but we will love the change that we created (Kidd Pg. 287). 

Open-ended: In chapter 8, Lily calls T. Ray from Clayton Forrest’s office. Did you predict where this phone call would lead T. Ray too? 

I knew something bad was going to happen when Lily called her dad. Lily calling her dad created a way for her dad to find her, up until that point Lily's dad had no clue where she was, but because of her call to him he was able to track the phone down and figure out where she was.. I was thinking he would track the phone call, and come. However, he found out from the phone bill (Kidd Pg.291). 

Close-ended: What were the items found in the hatbox that August brought in chapter 13? 

Lily’s mother's pocket mirror.

Hairbrush with a wooden handle.

A whale-shaped pin with a tiny black eye, and water coming from its blowhole. Deborah was wearing it on her sweater when she went to South Carolina. The pin was a gift from T.Ray on her twenty-second birthday.

Black poetry book.

Oval picture frame. It was a picture of Lily and her mother together. Lily’s mother's face was bent toward Lily’s, their nose rubbing each other, smiling. She was feeding Lily with a spoon (Kidd Pg. 285)