Representation of Trauma in Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees

Abstract

Drawing upon the basic theoretical insights mainly from the domain of racial and psychological trauma advocated by Dominic La Capra, the present research explores the psychological disorder and trauma of Lily Owens, the central character of Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees.  The research displays how Lily has shaped her entire life around the shocking, distorted memory. The research questions raised are though Lily was raised by her abusive father, T. Ray, why is she blamed for the death of her mother, Deborah, who was killed when Lily was only four years old? What forces Lily and Rosaleen Daise, the black servant of the house, to run away from T. Ray? The research finding is that Lily’s trauma and voice signifies her resistance against domination. The study seeks to comprehend the critical challenges confronted by the African-American women during the specific historical moment. Badly affected by the partition, Lily endeavors to cope with her mother’s abandonment, the haunting guilt she feels for murdering her mother, and her father’s verbal and psychological abuse. This research asserts the critical position of the characters’ psychological condition due to many traumatic conditions.