what is the social climate of the country?

Social and Political Allusions

It‟s arguable that The Secret Life of Bees would be regarded as a good novel with universal themes, with or without analysis of its social context and historical relevance. However,

“Black Madonna II”

by Paul Heussentamm

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Jack Palance

historical fiction is by nature a commentary on some aspect of the time period in which it is set. This work has countless allusions to current events of the 1960s that help us understand both the socio-political climate of the era as well as the emotional and psychological impact of certain events on the book‟s characters. The 60s were marked by the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War. In the novel there are specific allusions to events such as President Johnson‟s signing of the Civil Rights Act, the arrest of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the assassination of John F. Kennedy. There are also more general allusions to bomb drills, segregation and Jim Crow laws, black voter registration, and events occurring in Jackson, Mississippi. Understanding the atmosphere, mentality, belief systems, and general life experiences of this era will help us determine and appreciate the social themes of the novel. The Secret Life of Bees is not just a coming-of-age story of a young, oppressed girl living in America. It is the story of a girl growing up in the segregated South in a time period when it was not as acceptable as it is today for women to be independent and outspoken; it is the story of a white girl developing friendships and maternal relationships with strong African American women, and the conflicting emotions revealed by those who witness these relationships; it is a humanization of the Civil Rights Movement and the Voting Rights Act through the story of Rosaleen; it is a love story between a young white woman and a young black man in a time period when people were assaulted, kidnapped, even murdered for their involvement in interracial relationships. If we ignore the historical setting of The Secret Life of Bees, we will fail to achieve a full appreciation of its important themes and we will deny ourselves the opportunity to learn from the struggles and accomplishments of our predecessors.

As we continue to explore this wonderful book, record the ways allusions are incorporated into the story and consider their significance. In what sense does allusion make the book more meaningful? In what ways can it be a stumbling block? Do historical allusions ever serve as indicators of issues in our own society? If you were to write a novel set in the present, what elements of your plot would be deemed social, political, historical, or pop cultural allusions to someone reading your novel twenty years from now? How much longer would that list be one hundred years from now? Good writers consider these selections at the onset of a project; good readers get to analyze and interpret their choices.

It‟s arguable that The Secret Life of Bees would be regarded as a good novel with universal themes, with or without analysis of its social context and historical relevance. However, historical fiction is by nature a commentary on some aspect of the time period in which it is set. This work has countless allusions to current events of the 1960s that help us understand both the socio-political climate of the era as well as the emotional and psychological impact of certain events on the book‟s characters. The 60s were marked by the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War. In the novel there are specific allusions to events such as President Johnson‟s signing of the Civil Rights Act, the arrest of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the assassination of John F. Kennedy. There are also more general allusions to bomb drills, segregation and Jim Crow laws, black voter registration, and events occurring in Jackson, Mississippi. Understanding the atmosphere, mentality, belief systems, and general life experiences of this era will help us determine and appreciate the social themes of the novel. The Secret Life of Bees is not just a coming-of-age story of a young, oppressed girl living in America. It is the story of a girl growing up in the segregated South in a time period when it was not as acceptable as it is today for women to be independent and outspoken; it is the story of a white girl developing friendships and maternal relationships with strong African American women, and the conflicting emotions revealed by those who witness these relationships; it is a humanization of the Civil Rights Movement and the Voting Rights Act through the story of Rosaleen; it is a love story between a young white woman and a young black man in a time period when people were assaulted, kidnapped, even murdered for their involvement in interracial relationships. If we ignore the historical setting of The Secret Life of Bees, we will fail to achieve a full appreciation of its important themes and we will deny ourselves the opportunity to learn from the struggles and accomplishments of our predecessors.