Social Hierarchy In 'How To Bee' By Bren Macdibble

In the novel ‘How to Bee’, written by Bren MacDibble, there is a hierarchy among people based on their social status. The novel focuses mainly on the differences between the city and the country. The hierarchy takes its toll on ‘Peony’ (MacDibble 2017, p. 1), the narrator, when she is forced to leave her farm for the city and work for the ‘Urbs’ (MacDibble 2017, p. 28).

The place where you reside in How to Bee (MacDibble, 2017) determines your place in the hierarchy. Peony describes the homeless as ‘raggy people’ (MacDibble 2017, p. 55). Along with the people who reside in the city and surrounding suburbs as ‘Urbs’ (MacDibble 2017, p. 8). The use of nicknames successfully positions the reader to understand the ranking of the social hierarchy.

The language used such as “… like they know they’ll get nuthin’…” (MacDibble 2017, p. 56.) demonstrates the level of education that Peony has received. The difference in schooling that Peony received is described when she says “Lessons start on the speakers. Urbs don’t like that we farm kids are too busy to get educated, so lessons get played over the speakers while we work.” (MacDibble 2017, p. 8). Unlike Peony and the farm kids, ‘urbs’ (MacDibble 2017, p. 7) attend classes at actual schools. This is shown when ‘Esmeralda Pasquale’ (MacDibble 2017, p. 73) is introduced into the story, who is an ‘Urb’ that attends a prestigious private school in the city. Peony successfully positions the reader to understand just how different her education is from the ‘urbs’ (MacDibble 2017, p. 25). She does this by saying ‘My neck prickles, coz I can’t go to school. I know my numbers but I hardly know all my letters and I can’t read properly. I’ll look stupid’ (MacDibble 2017, p. 116). This conveys the ideology that people from the city are smarter than those from the country. This is also shown to be the case with ‘Ma’ (MacDibble 2017, p. 2) with the language used when speaking about the ‘raggy people’ (MacDibble 2017, p. 56). “Ma pats my back. They’re jus’ hungry,’ she says. ‘They think we got money coz we borrowed this nice car.’,” (MacDibble 2017, p. 56). Her

The protagonists mother ‘Ma’ only cares about money. She will cross anyone boost her bank balance and only cares for people that have money. This is shown in various situations, especially when she kidnaps her own child. ‘Ma’ (MacDibble 2017, p. 55) puts a strain on the relationship between her and ‘Peony’ (MacDibble 2017, p. 1) her daughter. This is reflected in her daughter’s actions, ‘I pull myself out of my squashed-in corner and slide to the middle of the seat.’ (MacDibble 2017, p. 56). Her use of the words ‘…squashed in corner…’ (MacDibble 2017, p.56) implies that she is trying to push herself as far as possible from her mother in the restricted area. Again, the mother’s priorities are shown when she states ‘“I wash my hands of you,” she says. “you’re dead to me now.”’ Effectively ridding herself of her daughter because she will not bring in money. When caring for someone with money such as ‘Ez’ (MacDibble 2017, p. 110) ‘Ma’ (MacDibble 2017, p. 109) is completely different person. The reader is positioned to feel sympathetic for the protagonist when she states ‘so no flat-out dragging or toe-stubbing for Esmeralda. Is this even my Ma?’ (MacDibble 2017, p.109). Making the reader to understand how neglected ‘Peony’ (MacDibble 2017, p. 1) really is. The relationship is completely lost when ‘Ma’ (MacDibble 2017) chooses a “…real family” (MacDibble 2017, p. 46) with money, over her already born