SLOB Timed Write Revisions

In Sue Mon Kidds Secret life of Bees, there are many themes and examples of the
protagonist Lily going beyond social norms. In the time period that Secret Life of Bees, takes
place in is the 1960s; The civil rights movement is in progress, the Space Race between the
U.S.S.R and the US has begun, the cold war is an ongoing threat on a global scale, and the rights
of women/roles did not change significantly (women still looked down upon by conservative
men women are considered inferior or lesser sex compared to man). During Sue Mon Kidds
novel the protagonist Lily goes beyond the social norms created by the conservative white men
in the late twentieth century. Here are some examples of Lily going beyond society Lily lives in a
house with African American women and she falls in love with an African American boy, Lily
does not let race define who she is despite her appearance. These examples shows Lily is a
young individual woman that does what she thinks is right and transcends beyond the social
norms of the time period in the 1960s, and that why Lily can gather the strength to face T-Ray at
the conclusion of the novel.
When Lily first goes to the home of the calendar sisters she is rejected by one of the
sisters, June. June rejects Lily due to her skin color, this was a new experience that Lily had
endured and it felt like the tables turned on her; Lily was the minority in the calendar sisters
home, eventually they become friends after some friendly activities that occur after. This is one
example of breaking the socials norms of the late twentieth century, Lily is be subjugated to
racism in a home with all African American sisters, whites being subjugated to racism was
unheard of at the time the novel was set.
Another example of Lily transducing social norms was when she stayed at the Boatwright
home. During the 1960s the tension between whites and colored races were very high, this little

fifteen year old girl surrounded by African American women influencing her choices was
outrageous. When Lily decided to live at the Boatwright house Lily knew that despite they were
only different in one way (skin color) she would be able to get along with them just fine and
become a wonderful young adult in the future from the sisters influences.
When Lily moved to the honey farm and began beekeeping with August Boatwright Lily
met a young boy also in high school, Zack. He was also African American, but Lily was
strangely attracted by Zack; In Lilys mind she questioned herself Could I actually be attracted
to an African American boy? The truth was yes she could, but at times she was not prepared to
break the social norms. Later in Lilys journey to find her mother Zack and her kissed each other
after Zack had been release from prison and May had died. The two at first became friends, but
eventually their friendship grew into their love for each other. This was a huge outrage, during
the late twentieth century a white girl and an African American boy to kiss each other and to fall
in love was disgraceful in societies eyes. The love of Zack and Lily destroyed all social norms
about racism, the two are one and others equal, without the two of them together they would be
only one half of the beacon that they are that ignores all social norms. This shows that Lily does
not let society norms control on what kind of person she is.
On the countering side at the start of the novel Lily was somewhat prejudice. Lily made
the assumption that no African American could actually be smart or creative, she thought all
African Americans were dumb and ignorant like Rosaleen. On the other hand when Lily finally
go to the Boatwright home she met the three sisters. She had realized how cultured, educated,
and creative these sisters were living in this home. Lily soon came to realize she had to overcome
her prejudice encrypted in her mind and become more open minded to new people and their

cultures. Thus furthering the argument that Lily transcends social norms by blocking the
prejudices created by society in the late twentieth century.
In conclusion, Lily breaks many social norms. Throughout her journey in the novel
Secret Life of Bees. Lily is a prime example of a protagonist that creates their own future and
lets go of their roots to become a better person. Lily does not allow social norms control her,
Lily does not have a predestined future. Lily makes her own future twit the strength this young
independent woman that she has acquitted thought her hardships in the novel Secret life of
Bees.