My mother's life was way too heavy for me

My mother's life was way too heavy for me

In Sue Monk Kidd's novel "The Secret Life of Bees," the protagonist, Lily Owens, grapples with the weight of her mother's life and the impact it has had on her own existence. Lily's mother, Deborah, died when she was just a young girl, leaving her to be raised by her emotionally distant father, T. Ray. Throughout the novel, Lily struggles to come to terms with her mother's absence and the secrets surrounding her death.

Lily's mother's life was shrouded in mystery and pain, and as Lily delves deeper into her mother's past, she begins to understand the complexities of her mother's struggles. Deborah was a woman who faced immense challenges and hardships, including a tumultuous marriage, mental health issues, and a deep sense of longing for something more in life. Her burdens were heavy, and they weighed heavily on Lily, even long after her mother's death.

As Lily uncovers more about her mother's past, she realizes that she has inherited not only her mother's physical traits but also her emotional baggage. She carries the weight of her mother's pain and suffering, feeling as though she must somehow make amends for the mistakes of the past. This burden becomes overwhelming for Lily, as she grapples with feelings of guilt, shame, and confusion about her own identity.

Throughout the novel, Lily seeks solace and understanding in the company of the Boatwright sisters, a trio of African American women who take her in and provide her with the love and support she has been missing in her life. Through her interactions with these women, Lily begins to heal from the wounds of her past and find a sense of peace and belonging that she never experienced with her own family.