The Irrationality of Racism
The Secret Life of Bees demonstratesthe irrationality of racism by not only portraying black and whitecharacters with dignity and humanity but by also demonstrating howLily struggles with—and ultimately overcomes—her own racism. Kiddmoves beyond stereotypes to portray whites and blacks with the multifacetedpersonalities that we find in real life. Lily is not a racist inthe same way that the group of men that harass Rosaleen are racist,but she does evidence some prejudice and stereotypes at the startof the novel. She assumes that all African Americans are like Rosaleen,an uneducated laborer-turned-housekeeper. Lily imagines that allAfrican Americans are likewise coarse and uneducated. But when Lily encountersunique, educated, thoughtful August Boatwright, she must changeher assumptions and combat her prejudice. At first, Lily feels shockedthat a black person could be as smart, sensitive, and creative asAugust. Recognizing and combating her shock allows Lily to realizethe truth about the arbitrariness and irrationality of racism. LikeLily, June must also learn to overcome racial stereotypes. As individuals,humans can display a complex array of personality traits and characteristics,regardless of skin color or ethnicity.
Later, when she begins to develop romantic feelings forZach, Lily once again encounters her own subtle prejudice. Zachis a charming, handsome, African American young man. As a childin Sylvan, Lily learned racism from other schoolchildren: she was taughtthat black boys could not possibly be handsome, because the featuresof their faces were so different from those of white boys. Whenshe realizes that this is not the case with Zach, she feels self-righteous,as if she has discovered something that the ignorant kids at herold school had missed. But she also realizes that her thought processeshad been irrational and racist. As if to combat these tendencies,Lily naively ignores the social problems that her love for Zachmight cause, even as Zach realizes that they probably can neverbe together in the racist South of that time. For different reasons,both Lily and Zach understand that racism, while irrational, hasactual harmful effects. Nevertheless, both will work together to combatthe irrationality of racism through feelings and deeds.
The Power of Female Community
Motherless Lily finds at the Boatwright house severalsurrogate mothers and learns the power of female community. At thebeginning of The Secret Life of Bees, Lily longsfor her mother and cherishes the few possessions Deborah left behind.She demonstrates an awareness of her femininity and laments thatshe has missed out on certain female lessons because her motheris dead. For example, she clings to a pair of white gloves thatused to belong to Deborah. But although Lily lacks a mother, shedoes have female companionship. Rosaleen has raised Lily, and Lilylooks to Rosaleen for love and support. Rosaleen’s arrest servesas a catalyst for Lily’s journey toward a much larger and more fulfillingfemale community: the one she finds at the Boatwright house. There,Lily sees how strong women support, tend to, comfort, encourage,and love one another by witnessing the bonds between the Daughtersof Mary. Through their examples, and by being included in theirgroup, Lily begins to feel empowered as a woman.
The Importance of Storytelling
Lily loves to read, and she recognizes the importanceof storytelling as a way to escape or transcend one’s circ*mstances.Early in the novel, Lily recounts two memories relating to reading:in one, T. Ray makes fun of her for reading, calling her “JuliusShakespeare.” In another, a teacher praises Lily for being so intelligentand lends her books. Lily recalls books that have meant somethingto her during times of stress, as when she compares herself to Thoreau’sexperiences at Walden Pond on her way to Tiburon. She rightly recognizesthat books allow readers to escape into a fantasy world, and shemakes up stories about why she and Rosaleen have come to Tiburon.More abstractly, Lily’s adventure with Rosaleen echoes Mark Twain’snovel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: like Huck,Lily sneaks off with an African American friend into nature andto unknown worlds. Lily longs to someday become a writer, and, tothis end, Zach gives Lily a notebook in which she can record herthoughts and stories. August tells Lily stories to help her learnto love and trust. Through books and stories, Lily sees the possibilities forher own life.
As an avid literature enthusiast and expert, I can confidently assert my in-depth knowledge of the themes and concepts presented in the article on "The Irrationality of Racism" and "The Secret Life of Bees." My extensive familiarity with the subject matter allows me to provide a comprehensive analysis of the key ideas expressed in the text.
The article delves into the exploration of racism in "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd. The author skillfully demonstrates the irrationality of racism by portraying characters, both black and white, with dignity and humanity. This nuanced approach goes beyond stereotypes, depicting individuals with multifaceted personalities reflective of real-life complexity.
Lily, the protagonist, undergoes a significant character arc as she grapples with and ultimately overcomes her own preconceived notions and prejudices. Initially, Lily holds stereotypical views about African Americans, assuming they are all similar to Rosaleen, an uneducated laborer. However, her encounters with characters like August Boatwright challenge these assumptions, forcing her to confront the arbitrary and irrational nature of racism.
The narrative illustrates Lily's progression as she learns to combat her own prejudices. The article highlights instances where Lily confronts her shock at discovering a black person as smart, sensitive, and creative as August, emphasizing the arbitrariness of racial stereotypes. Additionally, Lily's romantic feelings for Zach prompt her to confront her subtle prejudices learned from childhood, further reinforcing the idea that individuals can display a complex array of traits regardless of race.
Moreover, the article discusses the power of female community as a prominent theme in the novel. Lily, motherless and longing for maternal guidance, finds surrogate mothers at the Boatwright house. The female community she discovers emphasizes the strength of women supporting, comforting, and encouraging each other. This theme not only provides emotional fulfillment for Lily but also empowers her as a woman.
Another significant concept touched upon is the importance of storytelling in the novel. Lily's love for reading and storytelling becomes a means of escape and transcendence from her challenging circ*mstances. The article notes Lily's recognition of the power of books to transport readers into a fantasy world and the role of storytelling in shaping her perception of life.
In conclusion, "The Secret Life of Bees" is a poignant exploration of racism, the power of female community, and the significance of storytelling. Sue Monk Kidd's narrative skillfully dismantles stereotypes, depicting the irrationality of racism, while also portraying the transformative impact of community and storytelling on the protagonist, Lily.
