Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life Of Bees

When living in a small town, there is often a strong sense of community. It feels as if everyone knows everything about everyone. Stories change things that may not be true. When trying to find the truth, there are lies that can be blended in. In Sue Monk Kidd's novel, The Secret Life of Bees, the motif of family history is utilized to characterize the setting as tradition and collective memory, while also shaping the character of Lily Owens as she navigates her identity within the community. The setting of the novel, set in South Carolina during the tumultuous 1960s, is characterized by the motif of family history. The Boatwright sisters' home, the Pink House, is an "old, old place" with a "sleepy feel" (Kidd, 59). The house serves as a physical

The family history motif also significantly influences the actions of Lily Owens, the main protagonist. She was an orphan after her mother died. The day that she died was her “first and only memory of [her] mother” that she could find in her heart and mind (Kidd, 5). She lives with feelings of loss and displacement and wants to belong to something larger than herself. Throughout the novel, she is haunted by the memory of her mother, seeking to uncover the truth about her family's past. This quest for understanding leads Lily to the Boatwright sisters, who offer her a sense of belonging and connection rooted in their shared history. For instance, August Boatwright becomes a maternal figure to Lily, guiding her through the complexities of her own identity while imparting lessons gleaned from generations of family wisdom. She told her to come sit with her as she told her a story that her “mother used to tell [the sisters] when [they] got tired of their chores” to hopefully help them continue going (Kidd, 90). Lily denied she was tired of her chores, but she still thought it was a “good story” and she should “just listen” (Kidd