Lily In The Secret Life Of Bees

Once stated by an African American social reformer, Frederick Douglass, “Without struggle, there would be no progress.” Douglass explains that for progression to take place, there must be some sort of obstacle. For example, in Sue Monk Kidd’s book, The Secret Life of Bees, Kidd implements indirect characterization, symbolism, and allusions to help have a better connection to Lily’s development. Lily is depicted as person who is learning from the racial, family, and life hardships she encounters.
Regarding to indirect characterization, Lily was portrayed as a girl who was able to stand up to her abusive father because she is maturing. Kidd was perfectly able to provide this technique through the heated conversation between Lily and her father, T. Ray. While Lily experiences self-revelation, shouting, “You don’t scare me” (38). Once she uttered these words, she describes the feeling as “a brazen feeling has
For example, one late night Lily came downstairs, went up to the Lady of Chains figure, and prayed: “I live in the hive of darkness, and you are my mother...” (164). Within the story, Lily attempts to figure what has happened to her mother while, according to August, the Lady of Chains is guiding Lily in the predicament she is experiencing. For example, the event that started it all was the label of the back of the honey jar, which gave directions to the honey-house. As a result, Lily was able to run away and meet the Boatwright sisters where she was able to experience love all around her, motherly figures flanking left and right. Even though Lily’s mother has passed from a mysterious event that Lily was unsure about, the Lady of Chains is able to guide her just like a mother would. However, even with the guidance of the Lady of Chains, Lily is still experiencing racial hardships that is directed towards her loved