Secret Life Of Bees Lily Character Analysis

In the novel the Secret Life of Bees, Lily faces many obstacles which helps her become a young woman. Every major character plays an important role in Lily’s journey to maturity. By August and Rosaleen’s guidance, Lily obtains the necessary knowledge and experience needed to complete her goals and become a young woman. During the events that occur in the novel which aids Lily through her trials, she experiences female empowerment which bestows love into her life and strengthens her in order to survive the prejudiced world.

Lily being around the female adults such as Rosaleen and August grants her a sense of strength and wisdom. As Lily remains to be influenced by them she constantly gains vessels of empowerment being when Lily receives countless pep talks from August and complementing Lily on her beekeeping skills. In the ninth chapter a bee stings Lily and as she begins to panic August tells Lily “count

yourself initiated… You can’t be a true beekeeper without getting stung” and as August says that Lily confesses that “the words caused a fullness” in her (Kidd 167). The feeling it causes makes Lily filled with excitement which strengthens their relationship. Due to Lily’s friendship with August starting to grow, it causes Lily to become part of “the daughters of Mary” meetings.
During the time that Lily joins “the daughters of Mary” prayer meetings, she receives both spiritual and mental strength through Black Mary, “Our Lady of Chains,” and the members themselves.

In the either chapter Lily confesses to Black Mary that she needs to be fixed and later on she “reached out and tracked Black Mary’s heart with her finger. She stood with the petals on her toes and pressed her palm flat and hard against her heart.” Lily once again states “I live in a hive of darkness, and you are my mother… You are the mother of thousands” (Kidd 164). Later on in the story, T.Ray returns to Lily and as she becomes afraid she seeks help and strength from Mary and the members of the group. After T.Ray hits her and commences with the abuse “the daughters of Mary” walked into the room to come to Lily’s aid stating “we love Lily, and we’ll take care of her. I promise you that. We’ll start her in school here and keep her straight” (Kidd 298). When Lily is gifted with spiritual strength, she was able to find out what happened with her mom and forgive

Deborah.
As Lily was able to receive spiritual and mental strength, Lily understands the entire story behind what happened involving her mother, Deborah, which helps Lily discovers her newly found self-confidence. Deborah created a new life with August, May and June in Tiburon which helped her return to Lily. In the end of chapter thirteen, Lily thinks to herself “I figured May must’ve made it to heaven and to my mother about the sign I wanted. The one that would let me know I was loved” (Kidd 276). During these events Lily discovers her self-confidence which helps her defend herself again T.Ray when he tries to take her home. When Lily’s at the Black Mary statue she confesses “Fix me, please fix me. Help me know what to do. Forgive me… let T.Ray love me…” (Kidd 164). Lily is beginning to change the way she thinks about T.Ray from demonizing him to giving him hope that he would change himself.
The main elements which plays important factors in the Secret Life of Bees are maturity and female empowerment. Although Lily almost gave up on life throughout the novel, she was able to continue with the help of strength and love from Deborah, August, and Rosaleen. As result of countless obstacles that Lily and her friends witnessed, Lily was able to become fully matured into a young woman and receive proper education while at the pink house in Tiburon, South Carolina.