How Does Lily Mature In The Secret Life Of Bees

In Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees, readers are drawn into the journey that Lily Owens embarks on to find the strength to make her own decisions and grow as an individual. Her sense of humour helps her to survive, and she finally comes to an understanding of her yearning for her mother, and her growth takes her beyond her father’s lack of humanity. Lily develops into an outspoken young lady throughout the novel by making difficult decisions, meeting new people and learning how to stand up for herself. Lily finds her strength by making difficult decisions that are life changing. Firstly, Lily decides that she has to leave T-Ray, her father and start a new life. During one of their many fights Lily realizes, “In a matter of

Lily starts to mature as she realizes that she does not want to live a life that consists of neglect and abuse. Secondly, Lily decides to move in with an African American family. She shows her excitement when she tells her nanny, Rosaleen, “I spread out our lunch like a picnic on the bench but couldn’t eat a bite of it until I told her about the black Mary on the honey jar and the beekeeper named August Boatwright” (64). In this novel, the black Mary symbolizes having faith, and believing in something that is greater than oneself. Lily’s mother had a black Mary picture and now Lily owns that picture so seeing the same picture on the honey jar helps Lily find the strength to move in with the Boatwright sisters and find more information about her mother. Lastly, Lily decides that she wants to stay with the Boatwright sisters and not go back to living with her father. Lily makes this decision when she says, “‘I’m staying here

Firstly, Lily sees Rosaleen stand up for herself in front of a lot of people, mainly white people. She explains what happened when she says, “Rosaleen lifted her snuff jug, which was filled with black spit and calmly poured it across the tops of the men’s shoes, moving her hand in little loops like she was writing her name-Rosaleen Daise” (32). Rosaleen is a very strong, black woman who will not accept people treating her wrongly. In the novel, a group of white men start to make fun of her for trying to vote. She stands up for herself because she does not think that she is less than them. Lily learns that she too could stand up for herself and all she has to do is develop the courage. Secondly, Zach shows her his courage for standing up for what he thinks is right by attending a white school. He says, “‘Somebody’s got to,’ he said ‘Might as well be me”’ (283). Although Zach is black, he believes that there should be interracial schools, so he decides to be the first black to attend a white school. This teaches Lily that standing up for yourself is the right thing to do no matter what. Lastly, Lily finally builds up the courage to stand up to her father. She does this by saying, “I said I’m not leaving” (296). For Lily’s whole life, she was blamed for her mother’s death especially by her father. He is a terrible father to her because he mentally and physically abuses her, and makes her feel