Comparison Of Huckleberry Finn And The Secret Life Of Bees

The bestselling novel, The Secret Life of Bees tells a remarkable story of a motherless teenager who is raised by her hateful father and who is trying to find the answers to her past by running away from the present. The similar book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn portrays a related theme and addresses much the same social collision as shown in the novel by Sue Monk Kidd. The protagonists presented in the stories are analogous and show a great deal of resemblance throughout the plots. Therefore Lily Owens, who is the main character in The Secret Life of Bees, could be characterized as a modern day Huckleberry Finn.

In both of the narratives, it is shown that Huckleberry Finn and Lily Owens are escaping from abuse and cruelty of their

fathers. In Mark Twain’s book, Huck’s father-- Pap is a large influence on Huckleberry’s life. Living with his father, Huck becomes accustomed to living an unstructured lifestyle. He is constantly threatened, abused and instructed in wrong teachings. Lily Owens is also a child where her mother is absent from her life and has to be taken care of by her father. Like Huck, her father’s harsh treatment and prohibition to further her academic achievement has caused her to revolt and escape from her misery. Although Lily’s abuse is mostly verbal and psychological, Huckleberry Finn’s is also physical. Pap suffers from an alcohol addiction, which often results in causing neglect and mistreatment to his son. T. Ray on the other hand, blames his daughter for causing him the pain and agony for the absence of his wife.

Despite their unfortunate circumstances, the motherless adolescents still find themselves a trustworthy caregiver. Huckleberry Finn departs from home to find freedom from his father much the same as Jim is fleeing from the burden of slavery. Jim a runaway slave, gives great guidance to Huck about how to live based on your heart rather than society’s ways. Huck is influenced in countless aspects by Jim. His honesty, trust, and friendship all promote Huck to look upon the community’s ways differently. Just like Huck, Lily also changes her reasoning and matures throughout the story. She establishes her decisions on August, the wisest bee-keeper sister and her surrogate mother Rosaleen who is also fighting racial discrimination like Jim. Together, these women assisted the lost young girl to examine her broken life and start fresh and anew.

Racism still continued to take place and affect numerous lives of both whites and blacks.

Jim and Rosaleen are seeking freedom from discrimination with the help of their beloved young friends. Huck and Lily do not understand the nature of prejudice and try to figure out the answers. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck witnesses mistreatment to black people and direct experiences with his caregiver Jim. In the beginning, Huck does not perceive Jim as a human being such as himself. He believes African Americans are unintelligent and coarse, as does Lily Owens. Together, they think that African Americans are not as worthy as whites and that the world is structured this way and will not change. However, throughout their intimate relationships with their guardians, the two adolescents change their opinions about how society treats African Americans. Huckleberry Finn soon realizes that Jim strives to have a family and has a very kind heart. Jim tries to befriend Huck and protect him throughout their journey, and that is the factor that helped him mature and understand the irrationality of racism. Like Huckleberry Finn, Lily Owens also understands that character is more important than skin color. When Lily meets the Boatwright sisters, her opinion on African Americans changes drastically. She notices strength, love, and comfort in their small female community. Through these life changing role models, Lily is able to view the world with a new pair of

eyes.

Seeking an adventure and a new home is another feature that is displayed throughout both stories.

Huckleberry Finn disappears from home due to an improper relationship with his father. Even before that time, he strived for excitement when exploring with his admirable friend Tom Sawyer. One of too many times when Pap had gotten drunk, Huck had enough and decided to escape from his father. While traveling along the Mississippi River, Huck was scared but also wanted to explore. He soon found Jim, a runaway slave whom he was acquainted with and together they started their interesting odyssey. After a while, Huck and Jim grew closer and their raft soon became their new home. They both enjoyed the fellowship shared amongst them and the peace of the environment. Like Huckleberry Finn, Lily Owens also flees from her abusive father to better understand her past and to find herself a better reason to live. Lily and Rosaleen, her stand-in mother embark on a journey where the resolution is not known. However, they soon find a few colored women to accept them into their home and mend their broken lives from the cruel society’s impacts on

them.

Overall in both novels, the mutual conflict of finding a home, is resolved and the two adolescents find where they belong. In the pink house that shelters August and her sisters, Lily also finds love and belonging. Both of the ladies are accepted with smiles and warmth. Lily is taught to forgive, and is challenged on the ideas of race, religion, and spirituality. Through time, she matures as a woman and finds her identity. Much the same as Lily, Huck also changes throughout the plot. Jim shows him the injustice of slavery and it’s impacts on his life. Because of Huck’s experience outside of home, he realizes the many ways of how society is corrupt. Racial discrimination, Southern aristocracy, and senseless violence surround Huck’s world.