illustration of the back of main character Lily Owens's head with a honeycomb background

The Secret Life of Bees

by Sue Monk Kidd

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Chapter 1 Summary

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Lily Owens recalls the summer of 1964, when she turned fourteen. She starts by describing how she would wait in her bedroom each night for the arrival of bees. Although these bees are imaginary, Lily's strong emotional connection to them makes the reader question their reality. Lily's caretaker, Rosaleen, has mentioned that swarming bees are a sign of death. Lily is fixated on death, as her mother, Deborah, passed away when she was just four years old. She frequently thinks about the day her mother died and shares the incident, along with her own feelings of guilt, with the reader. She remembers sitting on the closet floor while her mother frantically packed a suitcase. She recalls her father, T. Ray, coming home and the ensuing argument between her parents. T. Ray shoved Lily, and her mother grabbed a gun from the closet shelf. The gun ended up in T. Ray's hands, then on the floor, and finally in Lily's hands. Lily remembers the sound of the gunshot. Her mother was dead.

Unpopular at school and unloved by her father, Lily relies solely on Rosaleen. She cherishes a few items connected to her mother: a photograph of Deborah, a pair of white gloves, and a picture of a dark-skinned Virgin Mary mounted on wood, with "Tiburon, S.C." written on the back. She keeps these items buried in a tin box in her father's peach orchard, occasionally digging them up and imagining what her mother was like. Lily recalls that the day before she started first grade, T. Ray told her she had accidentally killed her mother.

On July 2, 1964, Rosaleen is thrilled to hear that President Lyndon Johnson has signed the Civil Rights Act into law. That night, seeking a sense of closeness, Lily heads to the orchard to dig up her tin box. T. Ray catches her outside, assuming she is meeting a boy. He punishes her in a way Lily particularly despises: by making her kneel on the kitchen floor in a pile of Martha White grits, small grains that painfully dig into her knees.

Lily goes with Rosaleen to a Fourth of July voter-registration rally in Sylvan. Before Rosaleen can register, she catches the attention of a group of men playing cards. They provoke her with racial slurs, and she responds by pouring tobacco juice on their shoes. A confrontation ensues, leading to Rosaleen's arrest for assault.

Expert Q&A

What do the epigraphs in The Secret Life of Bees mean?

The epigraphs in The Secret Life of Bees serve as thematic guides for each chapter, reflecting Lily's personal growth and her relationships. They draw parallels between bee behavior and human experiences, such as communication, community, and identity. For instance, the concept of "queenlessness" mirrors Lily's search for belonging and self-discovery. As Lily matures and learns from the Boatwright sisters, the epigraphs underscore her journey from loneliness to empowerment as she becomes her own "queen bee."

What is the meaning of the epigraph in the first chapter of The Secret Life of Bees?

Lily begins her story confused and in search of a connection to her dead mother. She begins recounting interrelated events and characters: the arrival of bees to her house, memories of killing her mother when she was four and being frustrated by others who do not want to talk about her, and Rosaline, a black woman who worked as Lily's nanny. Allusions to the Virgin Mary (who will become significant in August's religion regarding the Black Mary) and angels (which bees resemble) draw the realism of the novel into a symbolic realm as well.

What daydreams did Lily have about Rosaleen in The Secret Life of Bees?

Lily daydreams of Rosaleen as her real mother, imagining scenarios where Rosaleen is white and married to T. Ray, making her Lily's true mother. Alternatively, Lily envisions herself as a Black orphan adopted by Rosaleen, or dreams of them living in a place like New York where adoption is possible without changing their race. These daydreams highlight Lily's deep emotional connection and longing for a maternal figure in her life.

What provokes the Esso station men to attack Rosaleen and why does she retaliate?

Rosaleen provokes the men at the Esso station by defiantly telling them she is going to register to vote, which incites their mockery and racial taunts. In retaliation, Rosaleen pours her snuff jar's contents on their shoes. This act of defiance angers the men, leading them to physically attack her. Her actions are fueled by her pride and resistance against racial discrimination in South Carolina in 1964.

Who caused Rosaleen's head injury in The Secret Life of Bees and why?

Rosaleen's head injury is caused by a white man who attacks her with a flashlight after she stands up to racial slurs by pouring snuff juice on their shoes. This occurs when Rosaleen and Lily are taken to the police station, highlighting the racial tensions and injustices of the time. The incident serves as a pivotal moment for Lily, who begins to understand the harsh realities of racial discrimination.

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Chapters 2-3 Summary

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