What is the most important theme in The Secret Life of Bees?

The Secret Life of Bees demonstrates the irrationality of racism by not only portraying black and white characters with dignity and humanity but by also demonstrating how Lily struggles with—and ultimately overcomes—her own racism.

What did May’s note say in The Secret Life of Bees?

On the second day of the vigil, August finds May’s suicide note and reads it with June. It urges them both to live their lives fully. August interprets this to mean that May wants June to marry Neil. They hold the vigil for four days straight.

What do the bees symbolize in The Secret Life of Bees?

Overall, the bees are symbols of mothering and community. In the very first chapter, the beginning quote states, The queen…is the unifying force of the community; if she is removed from the hive, the workers very quickly sense her absence (Kidd 1).

What mental illness did may have in The Secret Life of Bees?

Character Analysis May Boatright May was one of a set of twins, and her twin sister April committed suicide long before Lily came to the Boatright house. May also suffers from depression, and because of this, her sisters, June and August, keep an eye on her.

What is the thesis for the Secret Lives of bees?

Thesis Statement The recurring theme throughout “The Secret Life of Bees” is the importance of the mother figure to the maturation and growth of her daughter. When looking at this from a literary perspective rather than sociological, you become aware of the archetypal mother figure.

Is the Secret Life of bees a nonfiction book?

The Secret Life of Bees is Sue Monk Kidd ‘s first novel, following several acclaimed works of nonfiction. The novel follows Lily Owens in the summer of 1964 in South Carolina.

Who are the main characters in The Secret Life of bees?

The Secret Life of Bees has eight main characters: Lily, T-Ray, Deborah, May, June, August, Rosaleen, and Zach. Lily Melissa Owens is the narrator of the story. She is a white, fourteen year old girl with a late deceased mother and an abusive father who loves to write.

What is the structure of the novel, “Secret Life of the Bees”?

The Secret Life of Bees has a linear structure. This means that the action in a story follows a straight chronological line. There are sections in which we learn about the past, which is central to the story’s plot, but we see the past through the “present” narration of Lily, Rosaleen, and August.