Character Analysis Of Lily In The Secret Life Of Bees

A young girl, who killed her mother and wants to know more about her, changes the 14 year old’s life for a long period of time. In the novel, Lily has lived with some heavy burdens on her shoulders. She has to overcome these things and tell the truth even if she doesn’t want to. In Sue Monk Kidd’s novel, “The Secret Life of Bees,” Lily has a coming of age moment when she tells August the truth about everything. She decides to tell August the truth as shown through these things: telling her she is unlovable, how she was angry with what she heard, getting the items she has had. Lily has a coming of age moment when she realizes she is loved. “You are unlovable, Lily Owens.Unlovable. Who could love you? Who in this world could ever love you?”(Kidd 242). The voice inside her head was telling her things that she started to believe. She had no idea that she was wrong and so were the voices. “I am unlovable.”(Kidd 242). She said this out loud while talking to August. August goes on to tell her that she has no idea what she’s talking about. She gives all the reasons why she is lying to herself. After all this, Lily ends up realizing she is loved and is thankful for August.

“I know, Honey. Your mother was Deborah Fontanel Owens.” (Kidd 236). This shocked Lily because she was not expecting to hear that from August. She was choked up and could not find any words because it was so sudden. “You knew she was my mother all along.” (Kidd 235). She was upset and angry with what she had just heard. Lily was feeling like she had been betrayed by the ones she thought would not lie to her. Meanwhile, Lily had been lying to them. Overall, she heard some things she could not believe and was angry but kept talking and figured everything