LILY OWENS’ SEARCH FOR HER MOTHER’S FIGURE IN SUE MONK KIDD’S THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES

Abstract

In this novel Lily Owens searches her mother’s figure. There are factual backgrounds of her search, the ways of her search and the outcomes of her search. The purpose of this study is to analyze those three aspects. The analysis is conducted by using inductive method to make a precise and chronological analysis. It also uses psychological approach in exploring the thesis. The analysis reveals that the factual background of Lily Owens’ search is first, the lost of her mother. She has lost her mother since she was four years old so that she does not know exactly how she is. Second is the father’s bad treatment to her so that she longs for her mother whom she expects can protect her from her father if she is still alive. Third is her father’s bad image about her mother. Her father says that Lily’s mother has left her behind so that Lily tries to find the truth about her mother. Lily also uses some ways to search for her mother’s figure such as the search of her mother’s past memory and her escape from the house. With these ways she expects she can find her mother’s figure. The outcome of her search is the finding of her mother’s figure. After struggling to find her mother’s figure, finally she can find it. She not only finds her mother’s figure but finds new mothers and new happy family as well.