The Beekeeper's Apprentice

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd is a book discussing the internal strife of a young white girl, in a very racist 1960’s south. The main character, Lily Owens, faces many problems she must overcome, including her personal dilemma of killing her own mother in an accident. Sue Monk Kidd accurately displays the irrationality of racism in the South during mid- 1960's not only by using beautiful language, but very thoroughly developed plot and character development. Kidd shows the irrationality of racism through the characters in her book, The Secret Life of Bees and shows that even during that time period, some unique people, were able to see beyond the heavy curtain of racism that separated people from each

Conflict is a key aspect in all pieces of literature. Without it, works would be very boring, predictable and would not be able to draw the reader in. There is usually one main conflict the protagonist faces, whether it is against an evil villain or the evil inside their own self. In the book The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, the courageous protagonist, Lily, struggles with an internal conflict with the guilt of possibly being the cause of her mother's death and the absence of knowledge about her mother. Following a clue left by her mother, Lily runs away from home and meets the "calendar sisters" in Tiburon, SC. There, she is finally able to discover who her mother actually was and learn the truth behind her mother's death: that Lily had accidentally shot her. Upon uncovering the whole truth, Lily is finally able to begin to forgive herself and shrug off the heavy guilt that had burdened her for years. Through Lily's struggle to figure out who her mother was and accept what happened to her, Sue Monk Kidd wishes to communicate that even if something

They were separated from each other, having it to be their last time seeing each other. They were taken to two different types of jails where they were tortured. The government used their biggest fear to torture them. Winston’s biggest fear was seeing rats. Winston was taken in a room full of rats and was beat to death. He had to deal with it because he had no other choice. When Winston and Julia got away, they betrayed and hated each other. They couldn’t even look into each other’s eyes. The characters change from the beginning to the end of the book by them not knowing each other, falling in love, and finally hating each other. They went through tough stages. They both wanted to be with each other, but that never happened because the government did not believe in

Through the beginning sections of the novel, the severity of the consequences from Julia and Winston’s affair become quite prominent after the realization that they are taking part in one of the ultimate acts of defiance to Big Brother. Because Julia and Winston are risking a lot to be with one another, the secrecy of their relationship is a key factor in the suspense that builds towards the climax of the story. The suspense greatly affects the plot of the story by

"New beekeepers are told that the way to find the elusive queen is by first locating her circle of attendants." (57) This quote is at the beginning of chapter three and not only foreshadows many things to come, but within the quote, two of the novel’s main metaphors are mentioned, bees and the queen, which is referring to society and a mother figure. Although this quote is largely interpreted as a metaphor for Lily looking for a new queen or mother figure, and perhaps August being that mother, I believe that it has another meaning as well. I believe that the Black Madonna also serves as a “queen” and mother figure to all the women in “The Secret Life of Bees.”

People make decisions everyday from simple things like whether or not to eat breakfast or larger decisions like whether or not to take the new promotion at work. These decisions are usually dawned upon us suddenly and we look to others to help decipher which decision is the ideal decision. In The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, Lily Melissa Owens is actuated by a variety of characters to make both ambiguous and venerable judgments throughout the novel. She did not do this on her own for she had people in her life communicating with her to finalize the verdicts on her decisions. Some of the persuaders were T. Ray, May, June, August, Zach, the Daughters of Mary, and even her mother, Deborah Fontanel Owens. Saying that, they all

King’s Mary Russell series aimed to update the Sherlock Holmes cannon to the modern feminist era. However, King’s The Beekeeper’s Apprentice undermines its own feminist views through Mary’s approval seeking behavior, society’s restriction of women’s access to professional roles, and Mary’s tendency to react emotionally.

Before Winston met Julia, his body was wasting away and he believe he didn’t have anything worth living for. He started a journal and wrote “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER” all over a page, even though he knew he would be killed for committing thoughtcrime (19). However, when he sees “the words I love you [on Julia’s note,] the desire to stay alive had welled up in him, and the taking of minor risks suddenly seemed stupid” (91). Not only has Winston’s appetite for life returned because of Julia’s affection, but he becomes physically healthier as well. He “had grown fatter, his varicose ulcer had subsided… [and] his fits of coughing… had stopped” (124). Julia’s love strengthens Winston. After detailed planning to assure the Party could not eavesdrop on their date, Julia and Winston spend a whole afternoon in the countryside together and make love (98-106). This adventure is even more special to them because it is an act of rebellion against the Party, though they realize the fact they are able to be together is all that is important. Through each of their rendezvouses, Winston and Julia’s relationship grows stronger. Whenever they meet, “they [sit] talking for hours” (108). All the time they spend together leads

“Look at me. I dive into one absurd thing after another, and here I am in the pink house.” (431). These are the words of Lily Owens in the novel The Secret Life of Bees which was written by Sue Monk Kidd. The story is about a fourteen-year-old girl named Lily who lives on a peach farm in South Carolina with her abusive father, T.Ray. Throughout the novel, Lily had shaped her life around her mother’s death. Searching for answers about her mother, Lily, and her mother-like figure Rosaleen escaped to Tiburon, South Carolina to find the Boatwright sisters. During this journey, Lily and Rosaleen develop deep relationships with the sisters. Staying with the sisters, Lily finds her answers about her mother. Whilst in search for knowledge about her mother, Lily unexpectedly finds a new place she can really

The love between Julia and Winston made both of them reckless in a dangerous situation. The temptation of being together was enough to cause their capture and ruin their relationship. By the end of 1984, both the lives of Julia and Winston were altered negatively due to their carelessness caused by their love.

The worst thing about being lied to is knowing the you weren't worth the truth. In the novel the Secret life of Bees the author Sue Monk Kidd talks about Lily Owens a fourteen year old white girl lives on a peach farm with his abusive father T-Ray and his housekeeper Rosaleen . She believes she shot and kill her mom Deborah when she was four years old . In this novel the theme of lies /deceit is developed through certain characters and their motives for deception.

Every novel in the English literature has similarities and differences to another. The comparison between the novels is judged from topics such as the setting, laws, characters and daily living. The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has many similarities and differences with the novel, The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. Both novels are comparative as the characters in the books, their relationships and community laws portrayed are very similar and different to each other. The following examples and explanations prove that the authors of both novels are trying to convey similar yet different messages.

"Bye mom im going to go to the park with Keller". Wait! Mom said. You have you first day of dance camp. Oh right I said.

Setting Significance of opening scene In the beginning of this novel takes place in summer of 1964 in Sylvan, a made up small town in South Carolina. This is where Lily has lived for most of her life, on a peach farm with her abusive father T. Ray. And during the remaining and largest portion of the book after the exposition, it takes place in Tiburon, South Carolina. This is where she lives, during a large portion of the novel and at the end, a pink house where bees are kept.

An Italian farmer is offering a reward to anybody who can help him get back his collection of 1.2 million bees which were stolen in the dead of night on Tuesday.