The Secret Life of Bees is a novel the centers in on the events that take place in a Lily Owens’ life in the 1960s in Southern Carolina. The novel begins with Lily Owen reflecting on the day her mother died. Lily remembers many aspects of the day, but not exactly occurred to end her mother’s life. After Lily has completed her self reflection, she is noted to be in the back of police car with her African American nanny, Rosaleen. It is soon learned Rosaleen had thrown her tobacco at three high ranking white members of the town of Sylvan. Lily is obviously upset and distraught as she states the men had mistreated Rosaleen, badgering her only because of her race. Yet, no one listens to her, including her father who plans to scold Lily for supporting…
This injustice inspires Lily to break Rosaleen free from the jail; as a result, they must leave town and everything they have known to be homes or normal. They go to the town of Tiburon, as it is inscribed on Lily’s mother photo of the “Virgin Mary.” After arriving they find a jar of honey with the same picture of the Virgin Mary on it. They find the origin of the honey and discover it to be of the Boatwright home. Lily, ponderous of why her mother would have this sample picture as the honey logo, convinces Rosaleen to go to the Boatwright residence. Once they arrive at the house they issue a false story, which entails the two being orphans, to the obvious leader of the house, August Boatwright. She welcomes the two into her home, without considering the reservations June Boatwright makes. Lily and Rosaleen come into the house and begin to become a part of the Boatwright residence and family. Lily learns of all the sisters in the house. There is May, June, and August. While staying at the house Lily meets Augusts’ godson, Zachary Taylor. The two become best friends and each other’s…
