Gender and Racial Traumain Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees

Abstract

This thesis examines Sue Monk Kidd’sThe Secret Life of Beesin order to explore the implications of trauma on middleclass femaleLily’sand other minor characters andgender performance. The trauma thatwomen encounter within the novel occurswithin the domestic sphere and isresults of theaccident. This thesis interrogates women’s experiences within the domestic sphere, ultimately reflecting trauma. The novel tells the story of a motherless fourteen year-old Lily Owens,who has been raised by a cruel father,desperately searches for clues to unlock her mother’s past. Kidd’s novel reveals the incredible power of black women, particularly a group of beekeeping sisters andblack Mary, to create a safe haven where Lily can examine her fragmented life and develop psychologically, finally becominga self- actualized young lady. Drawing upon the notion of Jenny Edkin's, Kali Tal and Jeffrey C. Alexander, this thesis excels the issues of cultural trauma. Finally, Lily is able to negate limitation created by gender and racial domination and finds solace in the interactions and gains strength in her independence.