Little Bee By Chris Cleave Essay

The realistic-fiction novel, Little Bee, by Chris Cleave, revolves around two different women, one of them being a young Nigerian refugee, Little Bee, and the other a British widow, Sarah O’Rourke, who are brought together through a series of improbable coincidences. Because of the alternating perspectives, readers are able to see the internal and external struggles that both characters endure. Little Bee struggles to free herself from the strict Nigerian government by running away to Britain and staying hidden from the British government. On the other hand, Sarah, recently widowed by her husband’s suicide, attempts to control her tangled emotions and chaotic life. Little Bee’s struggle to escape the control of the unforgiving world is perceived throughout the novel as she tries to start a new life outside of Nigeria. Little Bee’s endeavor and her experiences in Britain convey the extreme measures people go through to free themselves from the power of others. For one, people would consider suicide in order to free themselves from the power of others. After
She contemplates suicide and betraying others for her personal liberty. These actions and thoughts convey an underlying message to readers about the situation of people in similar conditions to Little Bee. Those who are trying to free themselves from the power of others act in unexpected ways, including thoughts of suicide, self-harm, and betrayal. This mentality is seen throughout history. For instance, African-American slaves would commit violent crimes, attempt to run away, betray their fellow slaves, or sabotage their owners’ property to preserve a feeling of self-control in addition to escaping the power of other people. Based on the destructive behavior of those who resist having their power taken away, people would discard their ethical values and act erratically for their personal