Secret Life of Bees. Revised Essay.

Aubree Mendez

English 70

08 September 2012

Why Can't this Love be Socially Accepted?

            "Maybe it was a simple matter of being attracted to what I couldn't have." Why can't a love be love? Through the eyes of Lily, she sees African Americans as uneducated and incapable of doing the things a white person can do. In the novel Lily’s love for Rosaleen, the Boatwright’s and Zach are questioned. Why can’t this love be socially accepted? Lily sees that society treats African Americans differently and does not seem to realize that during that particular time period, it was unacceptable to love someone or people that are no the same race. Throughout the novel, Lily has grown to understanding the terrible nature of prejudice. However, as she grows, her love for Rosaleen, Zach, August, May and June become more than just loves.

            In the novel, Zach and Lily have a relationship that begins as a friendship and slowly cultivates into one of a more romantic nature. Initially, Lily meets Zach and is surprised that she is attracted to him, because prior to this moment black people were unattractive in her eyes. "If he was shocked over me being white, I was shocked over him being handsome. At my school they made fun of colored people’s lips and noses. I myself had laughed at these jokes, hoping to fit in. Now I wished I could pen a letter to my school to read at opening assembly that would tell them how wrong we'd all been" (116). As her attraction to Zach gradually grows, she struggles with the thought of having a relationship with him. "It seems like I was now thinking of Zach forty minutes out of every hour, Zach, who was an impossibility. That's what I told myself five hundred times: Impossibility" (133). As the novel continues, Lily realizes that regardless of what she tries to tell herself, she cannot prevent herself from loving Zach. Zach wants to create a world where whites and black will be socially accepted, particularly in a romantic manner. He says, "We can't think of changing our skin…Change the world, that's how we gotta think" (216) Lily sees that there is so much more than just skin color, Zach demonstrates to Lily that he is good, kind and loving and distinguishes that the world is not only filled with fraudulent and judgmental people, but with people that have faith and love and want change.

            In The Secret Life of Bees, Lily has a close nit relationship with Rosaleen, her black housekeeper. Even then she does not consider white and black people to be equal. In the beginning of the novel, Lily does not accept to reconcile her love for Rosaleen with her understanding that blacks are inferior to whites. However, when Rosaleen’s life is threatened by a system that Lily cannot comprehend, nor agree with, she realizes her next step; she must save Rosaleen’s life. She understands that she must conquer extreme measures to protect Rosaleen’s safety, for she has an abundance of love for her and Lily would never want her safety being jeopardized. Lily and Rosaleen’s love for each other is endless. Although Rosaleen is African American, she sees Lily as her very own daughter. She promises to stay by Lily's side no matter what she encounters.

            Lily’s feelings begin to adjust when she meets the Boatwright’s. The Boatwright’s are portrayed as strong back women with a profession, an education and a religious community that is strong and positive. Her perception of black people has changed because of how intelligent and strong the sisters were. Throughout her time spent with the Boatwright’s, I do believe that Lily has seen the true side of love, a love for them that has never been distinguished by her before, a love for them that will never fade.

            I believe that through Lily's stay at the Boatwright’s her heart has been forever altered. Zach also had a significant impact on Lily, causing her to realize it is not about skin color, but about who you truly are. He taught her to listen to her heart. It should not be a matter of your skin color, or how society portrays people. If it is wrong in the eyes of the public, but it is right in your heart, that is all that matters. There should never be boundaries when loving someone of a different race. One should never be judged when loving. Lily soon discovers that love is limitless.

The Soloist. Chapters Twenty Seven- Thirty One. (Main Idea and Summary)

"I sit through the concert, thinking back on two years that have been more exhausting and fulfilling than i could have imagined the day i fist set eyes on Mr. Ayers. Maybe I'm now at a point of letting go, of recognizing the limitations imposed by so severe a disorder as schizophrenia. I have fought it from the beginning, wanting to believe things would be different in the case of Mr. Ayers, and even now i hold on to the hope that he might one day get past the cyclical descents into paranoia and rage, and give a try to medication that could vastly improve his life... I've never had a friend who lives in so spiritual a realm as Mr. Ayers... And he is the reason I've decided I'll never be happy doing anything other than telling stories. He has wiped away my professional malaise and shown me the dignity in being loyal to something you believe in, and its not a stretch to say that this man I hoped to save has done as much for me as I have for him" (Page 284-285). Nathaniel and Lopez' relationship has grown into something that they both will forever cherish. Throughout these chapters you see a glow in Nathaniel and know that he appreciates a friend like Steve. He's beginning to grow into the musician that he has always wanted to be and he will cherish these moments for a life time. Ayers' new studio finishes around Christmas and finds himself surrounded by love and the new gifts that he's received by people he has inspired. Still today Nathaniel leaves a lasting impression on not only Lopez but his loved ones and people who still continue to read and hear about his story.

The Soloist. Chapters Twenty Seven- Thirty One. (Questions)

1. What was Nathaniel's Christmas gift?
2. Who did Nathaniel meet backstage?
3. How has Ayers and Lopez' relationship grown?
4. How was Nathaniel and Jennifer's reaction to seeing each other.

The Soloist. Chapters Twenty- Twenty Six. (Main Idea and Summary)

Throughout chapters twenty through twenty six, Lopez sees a change in Nathaniel. At first Nathaniel has made a huge improvement by continuing to spend the nigh in his apartment, he sees that Nathaniel is looking very clean and well rested. His appearance and his attitude seems to be changing for the better. However, as Lopez tries to get more help, Nathaniel resists and hesitates. As time goes on Lopez sees Nathaniel changing once again, Nathaniel has this look in his eyes that he had never seen before, a side of Nathaniel that not only frightens him, but saddens Lopez. Next, Lopez schedules a trip to New York for only one reason, to know this one part of Nathaniel's life a little better.

Towards the end of the story, Steve and Nathaniel have endured many different situations and trials. All in all, the two faced their differences. A friendship that was broken due to harsh words, and mended because of the deeper connection and bond they shared. Because of Nathaniel’s illness, he lashed out on Steve, he even threatened him. Sadly this caused Steve to feel that all he had did for Nathaniel amounted to nothing. Steve’s great character shines through because when Nathaniel is at his lowest, Steve decides to walk away and give him the space he needs. Steve has a larger understanding of Nathaniel’s mental illness. At the  end of the chapter, Nathaniel reveals his sincerity. I am sure he never truly meant what he said. And like a good friend that Steve is, the two became friends again. I really liked these chapters because it is the climax of the story, we see a friendship torn into pieces, but we also witness what the meaning of a true friendship is. 

The Soloist. Chapters Twenty- Twenty Six. (Questions)

1. What gift did Nathaniel receive from Steve? 

2. What was the reason Nathaniel had a picture of Neil Diamond on the wall?

3. Why does Lopez consider moving?

4. Why does Nathaniel get angry at Lopez and Prchal?

5. Why did Lopez take a trip to New York?

Grading. Brief Introduction to Water and Soil Pollution.

I would grade myself an A because I feel like I analyzed the article very well. I gave examples and provided the necessary research from this article into my answers.

Brief Introduction to Water and Soil Population.

1. The main idea in these three short articles is about how water and soil pollution effects not only our environment, but also the world itself.  

2.  Water pollution can occur in any body of water, including rivers, lakes and oceans. The polluting substance is often man made waste, such as household garbage. The water pollution is a danger to the marine creatures and the marine life, the marine plants and the environment. The pollution in the water endangers them because they depend on the waters natural resources to stay alive as well as the water being clean enough for them to survive in.

3. The man made pollution substances that affect water are, household garbage and commercial refuse resulting from manufacturing waste or agricultural runoff. Man-made substances that affect soil are when farmers use excessive amounts of fertilizer and other chemical on their land. Other examples of soil pollution are oil leaks or spills, seepage from a landfill or radioactive contamination.

4. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is also known as the “Wolds Largest Landfill” An estimated 3.5 million tons of trash reside in this landfill. The trash that is kept in this landfill is a result of currents in the Pacific Ocean that pull the trash and pollution into the ocean. This is the trash that effects the marine life and that is continuing to destroy the habitat and possibly the extinction of fish and animals.

5.

·      In the Pacific Ocean an estimated twenty percent of the population comes from ships at sea that may dump waste or cargo according to the Public Broadcasting System.

·      Less than twenty percent comes from beachgoers whoa allow their trash to be swept away at sea.

·      Other sources include leftovers from storm drainage systems and trash from other countries beside the United States, including China, Japan and Mexico.

6.  The Pacific Ocean circulates pollutants in the air, also known as persistent organic pollutants, which includes many toxic chemicals that can kill and endanger animals.

7. The recycling rate for those twenty nine billion bottles of water is low. Only about thirteen percent end up in the recycling stream where they are turned into products like fleece clothing, carpeting, playground equipment and new containers and bottles. Plastic bottles take centuries to decompose and if they are incinerated, toxic byproducts, such as chlorine gas and ash containing heavy metals, are released into the atmosphere.

8.

·      Don’t drink bottles of water because it can be toxic.

·      Plastic does not decompose.

·      Chemicals and trash can have an effect on the extinction of animals.

·      Marine life can be endangered.

·      Water bottles are not as always as safe as tap water.

9. “Don’t litter, it makes the world bitter!”

10. If they prohibited bottled water I would feel that everyone should be required to have a filtered water dispenser in their household. I too drink bottled water on a regular daily basis, but if we had a filter on our sink that provided clean filtered water, it would save money and people would know that it is clean filtered water.