While growing up and experiencing the world it is crucial for a child to have a grown figure in their life to guide them. In the novel The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, Lily Owens is a fourteen year old girl whose mother died in an accident when she was four years old. Since her mother's death, Lily has been living with her father, T. Ray, and Rosaleen, a black women whom T. Ray “[has] pulled...out of the peach orchard”(Kidd 2) to pick up responsibilities around the house that Lily’s mother had taken care of. Lily’s father is not up to the task of raising Lily alone. A girl needs a maternal figure in her life while she is growing up to guide her and give her love. Lily searches for the guidance she needs in T. Ray initially. Once T. Ray is unable to help Lily, she strives to find assistance elsewhere. T. Ray treats Lily poorly. As a form of punishment for Lily, T. Ray will “[pour] a mound of grits the size of an anthill onto the pine floor”(24) then force Lily to kneel on them. This punishment has been going on
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Ray, Lily finds solace in T. Ray’s house servant Rosaleen. Rosaleen has acted as “[Lily’s] stand-in mother”(2) since Lily’s birth mother died. Lily looks to Rosaleen for the comfort and guidance she would receive from a maternal figure. Lily often had daydreams about Rosaleen “[becoming] [her] real mother”(12). Lily wishes for Rosaleen to be her mother because she needs someone to fill that position in her life. When Lily was eight “[Rosaleen] bought [her] an Easter-dyed biddy from the mercantile”(11). Upon T. Rays return home he tries to attack the baby chicken but is stopped by Rosaleen. Rosaleen protects Lily from her father's wrath as a mother would protect her daughter. This act resonates with Lily because it leads her to believe the “[Rosaleen] loves [her]”(12). Lily is desperate for the love of a mother and receives it from Rosaleen. Lily’s hunger for a maternal figure is sated by Rosaleen while she lives at
Ray, Lily finds solace in T. Ray’s house servant Rosaleen. Rosaleen has acted as “[Lily’s] stand-in mother”(2) since Lily’s birth mother died. Lily looks to Rosaleen for the comfort and guidance she would receive from a maternal figure. Lily often had daydreams about Rosaleen “[becoming] [her] real mother”(12). Lily wishes for Rosaleen to be her mother because she needs someone to fill that position in her life. When Lily was eight “[Rosaleen] bought [her] an Easter-dyed biddy from the mercantile”(11). Upon T. Rays return home he tries to attack the baby chicken but is stopped by Rosaleen. Rosaleen protects Lily from her father's wrath as a mother would protect her daughter. This act resonates with Lily because it leads her to believe the “[Rosaleen] loves [her]”(12). Lily is desperate for the love of a mother and receives it from Rosaleen. Lily’s hunger for a maternal figure is sated by Rosaleen while she lives at