The Secret Life of Bees | Sue Monk | Cliff Note Books
“The Secret Life of Bees” is a coming-of-age novel by Sue Monk Kidd set in 1964 South Carolina, amid the Civil Rights Movement. It follows the journey of a 14-year-old white girl, Lily Owens, who is haunted by the blurry memory of accidentally shooting and killing her mother when she was four years old. Living with her abusive and neglectful father, T. Ray, Lily yearns for her mother’s love and truth about her.
Lily’s life takes a turn when her housekeeper and stand-in mother figure, Rosaleen, is arrested and beaten after attempting to register to vote, leading Lily to orchestrate a jailbreak. They become fugitives, with Lily deciding to journey to the town of Tiburon, South Carolina. The town’s name is inscribed on the back of an image of a Black Madonna, one of the few mementos Lily has of her mother.
In Tiburon, Lily and Rosaleen are taken in by the Boatwright sisters—August, June, and May—who run a successful business producing Black Madonna honey. Lily is introduced to the world of beekeeping and the strong, supportive female community that the sisters offer. Lily and Rosaleen find acceptance, love, and belonging in the unconventional Boatwright household.
During her time in Tiburon, Lily learns about the power of sisterhood, the brutality of prejudice, and the freedom of independence. She also experiences first love with a young black man named Zach, challenging her own prejudice and society’s racist conventions.
As Lily learns about beekeeping from August, she also uncovers truths about her mother. August reveals that she knew Lily’s mother, who had actually left Lily with T. Ray and was returning to get her the day she died. Lily must grapple with the knowledge that her mother was a flawed human being, a realization that is both painful and healing.
“The Secret Life of Bees” is a story of personal growth, the strength of women, and the power of love and acceptance. Lily’s journey from an unloved and unwanted child to a strong and independent young woman is at the heart of this deeply moving novel.
QUOTES FROM THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES
“Someone who thinks death is the scariest thing doesn’t know a thing about life.”
“The hardest thing on earth is choosing what matters.”
“If you need something from somebody always give that person a way to hand it to you.”
“Knowing can be a curse on a person’s life. I’d traded in a pack of lies for a pack of truth, and I didn’t know which one was heavier. Which one took the most strength to carry around? It was a ridiculous question, though, because once you know the truth, you can’t ever go back and pick up your suitcase of lies. Heavier or not, the truth is yours now.”
“You have to find a mother inside yourself. We all do. Even if we already have a mother, we still have to find this part of ourselves inside.”
“It is the peculiar nature of the world to go on spinning no matter what sort of heartbreak is happening.”
“You know, some things don’t matter that much…like the color of a house…But lifting a person’s heart–now, that matters.”
“The world will give you that once in awhile, a brief timeout; the boxing bell rings and you go to your corner, where somebody dabs mercy on your beat-up life.”
BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR OF THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES
Sue Monk Kidd is a noted American author, born on August 12, 1948, in Sylvester, Georgia. She graduated from Texas Christian University in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Kidd worked as a Registered Nurse and college nursing instructor in her early career. During her 30s, she experienced a spiritual awakening that influenced her writing path.
Kidd first gained popularity with her memoirs. She published “God’s Joyful Surprise” in 1988, which became a bestseller. This was followed by “When the Heart Waits” (1990), and “The Dance of the Dissident Daughter” (1996), which detailed her exploration of feminist theology and her own spiritual journey.
Her first novel, “The Secret Life of Bees” (2001), drew heavily on her own experience growing up in the South. The book is set in South Carolina during the Civil Rights era and centers on a young girl who escapes from her abusive father and finds a new home with a group of black beekeeping sisters. The novel became a critical and commercial success, spending over two years on the New York Times Bestseller List and getting translated into several languages.
“The Secret Life of Bees” was followed by “The Mermaid Chair” (2005), another bestseller that won the 2005 Quill Award for General Fiction. In 2014, she published “The Invention of Wings,” a historical novel about a white girl and her family’s black slave growing up in early 19th century Charleston. This novel also became an international bestseller and was chosen for Oprah’s Book Club 2.0.
Throughout her writing, Kidd has continued to explore themes of spirituality, women’s experiences, and personal transformation. In addition to her novels and memoirs, she has written several spiritual essays and guidebooks. As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, she remains an influential figure in contemporary American literature.
THEMES IN THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES
Motherhood: The longing for maternal love and guidance is a key theme. Lily’s search for information about her late mother is what drives much of the plot. The novel also explores the concept of surrogate motherhood, with characters like Rosaleen and the Boatwright sisters providing maternal care and guidance in the absence of Lily’s biological mother.
Racism and Prejudice: The novel is set in South Carolina during the era of the Civil Rights Movement, and it doesn’t shy away from depicting the racial tensions of the time. The racism faced by the Boatwright sisters and the indignities suffered by Rosaleen highlight the systemic prejudice that defined the period.
The Power of Female Community: The Boatwright sisters demonstrate the strength and resilience found in a community of women. This sisterhood provides the nurturing and supportive environment that allows Lily to grow and heal.
Coming of Age: Lily’s journey to discover her mother’s past and her place in the world serves as a coming-of-age narrative. She learns about love, betrayal, and the complexities of life, all of which contribute to her growth and self-discovery.
Religion and Spirituality: The Boatwright sisters practice a form of spirituality centered around the Black Madonna, representing a religion that values and uplifts women, particularly black women. This theme explores the idea of divine femininity and the role of faith in healing and transformation.
Forgiveness and Redemption: Lily struggles with guilt and regret over her mother’s death. Her journey towards forgiveness, both for herself and her father, is a crucial part of her emotional development. This theme underscores the idea that redemption and change are possible.
The Importance of Storytelling: The act of storytelling and the power of stories to heal, enlighten, and provide a sense of identity is a significant theme in the novel. The stories that August shares about the Black Madonna, their mother, and the bees all serve to guide Lily on her journey.
DISCUSSION WHEN STUDYING THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES
Race Relations and Civil Rights: The novel is set in 1964, during the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. How does the book portray the racial tensions and societal changes of this era? How do the characters’ experiences reflect the broader historical context?
Motherhood and Female Relationships: The book explores various forms of motherhood and female bonds. Discuss the different representations of motherhood and the role of female community in the novel.
Religion and Spirituality: The Boatwright sisters’ worship of the Black Madonna is a significant aspect of the novel. What does their unique form of spirituality suggest about traditional religious practices and beliefs? How does spirituality aid in the characters’ personal growth and healing?
Coming-of-Age and Identity: Lily’s journey to discover her mother’s past and understand her identity is central to the story. How does Lily’s character evolve over the course of the novel? What factors and experiences contribute to her self-discovery?
Symbolism: There are several recurring symbols in the book, including bees, the Black Madonna, and honey. How do these symbols contribute to the novel’s themes and the characters’ development?
The Role of Nature: Bees and their behavior play a pivotal role in the novel, symbolizing community, order, and productivity. Moreover, many critical scenes take place in natural settings. Discuss the significance of nature in the novel.
Forgiveness and Redemption: Explore how the theme of forgiveness is portrayed in the novel. How do the characters seek and achieve forgiveness? How does this contribute to their personal growth and the novel’s resolution?
Role of Stories and Storytelling: Discuss the significance of storytelling in the novel. How do stories shape the characters’ understanding of themselves and others? How do they provide comfort, impart lessons, or maintain traditions?
SUMMARY OF THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES
Chapter 1: The novel opens with the protagonist, Lily Owens, introducing her life on a peach farm in South Carolina with her abusive father, T. Ray. Lily is haunted by a memory of the day her mother died when she was four years old, believing she accidentally killed her mother. She finds solace in the company of Rosaleen, their housekeeper.
Chapter 2: Lily finds a box of her mother’s belongings that T. Ray had hidden, which contains a picture of a Black Madonna, inscribed with the words “Tiburon, S.C.” on the back. Rosaleen is arrested after she gets into a fight with three racist men while on her way to register to vote.
Chapter 3: Lily visits Rosaleen in jail, bringing her a cake baked with an escape plan inside, but Rosaleen dismisses the plan. However, T. Ray confronts Lily about her visit to the jail, which ends with him revealing that Lily’s mother was leaving her when she died. This revelation triggers Lily to execute a jailbreak for Rosaleen.
Chapter 4: Lily breaks Rosaleen out of the hospital where she was taken after being beaten in jail. They leave town, with Lily lying to Rosaleen that they are going to Virginia. In reality, Lily plans to go to Tiburon, South Carolina, a location she found in her mother’s things.
Chapter 5: Lily and Rosaleen, now fugitives, continue their journey to Tiburon. They rest in the woods where Lily opens up to Rosaleen about the real reason behind their journey and her hope that they can find information about her mother there.
Chapter 6: Lily and Rosaleen finally arrive in Tiburon and stop at a general store where Lily sees a honey jar with the same Black Madonna image as her mother’s. She learns that the honey is made by a local producer, August Boatwright. They decide to visit her.
Chapter 7: Lily and Rosaleen meet the Boatwright sisters: August, June, and May. They live in a bright pink house and own a successful honey production business. August, the eldest, warmly invites them to stay. May, who is extremely sensitive and empathetic, is deeply affected by the pain of others.
Chapter 8: Lily helps August with beekeeping and learns more about the bees. She lies to August about their journey, claiming to be traveling to her aunt’s house. Rosaleen becomes part of the house, helping May in the kitchen. Lily grows closer to August and the sisters, and she enjoys being part of a female-led household.
Chapter 9: August explains the story of the Black Madonna to Lily, linking it to a religious figure they call “Our Lady of Chains.” Lily also meets Zach, August’s godson, who helps with the bees. Lily is attracted to Zach, which confuses her because he is African American, and she knows society won’t accept their relationship.
Chapter 10: Lily continues her work with the bees and becomes closer to Zach. They dream about being writers. A tragedy occurs when Zach is arrested after one of his friends throws a bottle at a white man. He refuses to snitch on his friend and is taken to jail. May is deeply distressed by Zach’s arrest and leaves the house.
Chapter 11: After hearing about Zach’s arrest, May leaves the pink house and doesn’t return. When the others find her, she has drowned herself in the river, weighed down by a large rock. The Boatwright sisters and Lily are all deeply saddened. They hold a vigil for May.
Chapter 12: The Boatwright sisters and Lily continue to grieve for May. During this time, Lily and Zach grow even closer, although Zach still insists they can’t be together because of the racial tensions of the time. Lily decides that she will eventually tell August the truth about her past.
Chapter 13: Lily finally tells August the truth about herself and her mother. To Lily’s surprise, August reveals that she knew Lily’s mother, that she had been her housekeeper in Sylvester. August explains that Lily’s mother had come to their house to retrieve Lily, but was killed before she could do so. Lily is upset by this, feeling a deep sense of betrayal, but she eventually comes to terms with the reality that her mother was a flawed human being, like everyone else.
Chapter 14: Lily fully accepts her new life with the Boatwright sisters. In a powerful ritual, she and the other women of the house pour honey over a statue of the Black Madonna, embracing the strength and love of their female community. Lily realizes she is content and has finally found a place where she feels like she belongs.
In the final chapters, “The Secret Life of Bees” reaches its climax and resolution. The story ends with a sense of closure for Lily, who has confronted her past, learned the truth about her mother, and found a new home and family. The novel concludes on a hopeful note, despite the tragedies that have occurred.