The Secret Life of Bees
Stephanie Tolbert
COMM/360
December 2, 2012
Dr. Jake Golden
The Secret Life of Bees
The Secret Life of Bees the characters are continually standing up for what they believe in. Rosaleen stands up for her civil rights, Lily stands up for freedom from her dad, the Boatwrights and the Daughters of Mary stood up for the equal opportunity of women and African Americans. When Rosaleen heard of the signing of the civil rights act, she instantaneously went to register to vote, and when Lily was acting like she was stupid, she stood up for herself. When Lily’s dad was abusing her and not allowing her to do with her life what she wanted, Lily ran away from home in an attempt to find her own way through life. As African American women, society put the Boatwrights at a lower level than men and white people, and so they create their own organization in which they are special. Rosaleen Daise, Lily Owens, and the Boatwrights all stand up for what they believe in, signifying that people can only get past the expectations of society by fighting for what they think is right.
In standing up for her beliefs of equal opportunity, Rosaleen moves past the set place that society has placed her in. Upon the signing of the Civil rights act, Rosaleen practices her signature for hours so that she will be able to register to vote without being rejected. When Rosaleen was on her way to vote and she was questioned by racist white men, she retaliated by pouring her snuff juice on their feet. After the white men beat her and insisted on an apology that they didn’t receive, Rosaleen was brought to the police station with Lily. Upon arriving at the station, the white men were waiting for her, and Rosaleen stopped walking. The dealer lifted the flashlight over his head and smashed it into Rosaleen’s forehead. She dropped to her knees. Lily did not remember screaming, but the next thing she knew, Mr. Gatson had his hand clamped over her mouth. In...