Theme of Secret Life of Bees
Mothers
The novel is a story about the powerful, magnetic pull of children to their mothers. From the very first chapter, Lily is looking for her mother — or at least to know her mother. Throughout the story, she discovers surrogate mothers, and finally reconnects with her own mother's story.
Her first yearning, however, is for her real mother, Deborah. When Lily finds her mother's things, she makes up all kinds of stories about what her mother would have been like. Lily harbors romantic ideas about her mother and how she would have treated Lily if she were still alive. Brushing Lily's hair, helping her pick out her first bra, and teaching her about dating and boys are all the kinds of events Lily pictures a mother doing. She feels bereft as a result of her position as a social pariah, often directly because she doesn't have a mother. Lily seeks her mother's forgiveness for killing her, but she also misses her mother's presence and wisdom.
Lily loves Rosaleen like a mother, but Rosaleen is not as cultivated or soft as Lily imagines her own mother to be. Rosaleen's lack of manners sometimes bothers Lily, but Rosaleen is the one who cleans Lily up when she has hurt herself after throwing the honey jars against the wall of the honey house; Rosaleen is the one who sometimes intercedes with Lily's father. And in the long run, Rosaleen is the one Lily applauds for having the courage and strength to register to vote.
August is Lily's second surrogate mother, and she gives Lily wisdom. She instinctively knows what Lily needs and realizes right away whose daughter Lily is. She waits patiently until Lily comes to her with the story of her real mother, and she holds Lily while she lets out all her pain and anger. August waits until the right moment to give Lily her mother's things, and she allows Lily to deal with her father in the climax of the story. She also teaches Lily about beekeeping, a skill handed down from mother to daughter. Finally, August gives
The novel is a story about the powerful, magnetic pull of children to their mothers. From the very first chapter, Lily is looking for her mother — or at least to know her mother. Throughout the story, she discovers surrogate mothers, and finally reconnects with her own mother's story.
Her first yearning, however, is for her real mother, Deborah. When Lily finds her mother's things, she makes up all kinds of stories about what her mother would have been like. Lily harbors romantic ideas about her mother and how she would have treated Lily if she were still alive. Brushing Lily's hair, helping her pick out her first bra, and teaching her about dating and boys are all the kinds of events Lily pictures a mother doing. She feels bereft as a result of her position as a social pariah, often directly because she doesn't have a mother. Lily seeks her mother's forgiveness for killing her, but she also misses her mother's presence and wisdom.
Lily loves Rosaleen like a mother, but Rosaleen is not as cultivated or soft as Lily imagines her own mother to be. Rosaleen's lack of manners sometimes bothers Lily, but Rosaleen is the one who cleans Lily up when she has hurt herself after throwing the honey jars against the wall of the honey house; Rosaleen is the one who sometimes intercedes with Lily's father. And in the long run, Rosaleen is the one Lily applauds for having the courage and strength to register to vote.
August is Lily's second surrogate mother, and she gives Lily wisdom. She instinctively knows what Lily needs and realizes right away whose daughter Lily is. She waits patiently until Lily comes to her with the story of her real mother, and she holds Lily while she lets out all her pain and anger. August waits until the right moment to give Lily her mother's things, and she allows Lily to deal with her father in the climax of the story. She also teaches Lily about beekeeping, a skill handed down from mother to daughter. Finally, August gives