Sheridan Metternick
Mr. Hickey
E Block
July 21, 2015
The Secret Life of Bees Reader Response
1. Protagonist
“...I was surprised by this. That's what let me know I had some prejudice buried inside me.” (78)
In Chapter 4, Lily is talking about T. Ray's attitude toward "colored women," and she confesses that she felt they could not be as smart as her. Then she meets August and sees how intelligent she is. This is evidence of Lily gaining insight into an attitude that she had because of her father, now examining that attitude in light of the evidence. This is a true example of change and growth. When we are young, we tend to take our attitudes from our parents or others around us, without thinking about whether they are good or bad. They …show more content…
Her right arm was raised as if she was pointing the way, except her fingers were closed in a fist. It gave her a serious look, like she could straighten you out if necessary.”
Lily simply yet viscerally reacts to the statue’s material, color, and gesture. Immediately she feels that the statue is able to see deep into her true self. She believes that the statue is aware that she is lying to August and June about where she has come from and why she has come to Tiburon. Although she fears the statue, Lily also connects with Our Lady of Chains and believes it to have special powers. Her reactions help prove the role the statue will later take as the Boatwrights’ central religious artifact, which the Daughters of Mary pray to and which Lily goes to for guidance. But, more important, Lily thinks of the statue as the embodiment of a strong and defiant woman. So far, only Rosaleen has had the role of inspiring Lily to be more powerful and independent. Lily has never had any other female role models, since her mother died when she was four and ever since Lily was isolated with T. Ray. Arriving in Tiburon, Lily realizes that she has the chance to act in any way she never knew she could, and leading herself to become the person she has always …show more content…
Ray is a result from all that August has teached her. Lily begins to understand that women do not have to be the victims, when August explained to her that it was mary who told her to leave T. Ray. Just as Our Lady can break her chains, Lily learned she can stand up to the bullies at school who call her a "nigger lover," and to her own abusive father. However, Lily had to forgive herself before she could stand up for herself and understand she is a human being who deserves to be treated with respect. With all the mourning she did following August's revelations about Deborah and all the quiet, time led Lily to a new found forgiveness of herself. Lily deserved to be loved and cared for. She may have killed her mother accidentally; but she cannot change that. Undoubtedly, there will continue to be times when Lily will still feel badly about what happened, but she now realizes (and even T. Ray admits) that she did not mean to do it and she must forgive herself for what happened to her mother because the past is the past and she can not change the accidental death of her mother. Lily now has a new home with a family in a community that loves and cares for her, and will allow Lily to continue on a path to a better
Mr. Hickey
E Block
July 21, 2015
The Secret Life of Bees Reader Response
1. Protagonist
“...I was surprised by this. That's what let me know I had some prejudice buried inside me.” (78)
In Chapter 4, Lily is talking about T. Ray's attitude toward "colored women," and she confesses that she felt they could not be as smart as her. Then she meets August and sees how intelligent she is. This is evidence of Lily gaining insight into an attitude that she had because of her father, now examining that attitude in light of the evidence. This is a true example of change and growth. When we are young, we tend to take our attitudes from our parents or others around us, without thinking about whether they are good or bad. They …show more content…
Her right arm was raised as if she was pointing the way, except her fingers were closed in a fist. It gave her a serious look, like she could straighten you out if necessary.”
Lily simply yet viscerally reacts to the statue’s material, color, and gesture. Immediately she feels that the statue is able to see deep into her true self. She believes that the statue is aware that she is lying to August and June about where she has come from and why she has come to Tiburon. Although she fears the statue, Lily also connects with Our Lady of Chains and believes it to have special powers. Her reactions help prove the role the statue will later take as the Boatwrights’ central religious artifact, which the Daughters of Mary pray to and which Lily goes to for guidance. But, more important, Lily thinks of the statue as the embodiment of a strong and defiant woman. So far, only Rosaleen has had the role of inspiring Lily to be more powerful and independent. Lily has never had any other female role models, since her mother died when she was four and ever since Lily was isolated with T. Ray. Arriving in Tiburon, Lily realizes that she has the chance to act in any way she never knew she could, and leading herself to become the person she has always …show more content…
Ray is a result from all that August has teached her. Lily begins to understand that women do not have to be the victims, when August explained to her that it was mary who told her to leave T. Ray. Just as Our Lady can break her chains, Lily learned she can stand up to the bullies at school who call her a "nigger lover," and to her own abusive father. However, Lily had to forgive herself before she could stand up for herself and understand she is a human being who deserves to be treated with respect. With all the mourning she did following August's revelations about Deborah and all the quiet, time led Lily to a new found forgiveness of herself. Lily deserved to be loved and cared for. She may have killed her mother accidentally; but she cannot change that. Undoubtedly, there will continue to be times when Lily will still feel badly about what happened, but she now realizes (and even T. Ray admits) that she did not mean to do it and she must forgive herself for what happened to her mother because the past is the past and she can not change the accidental death of her mother. Lily now has a new home with a family in a community that loves and cares for her, and will allow Lily to continue on a path to a better