Underground Airlines And The Secret Life Of Bees Tell Related

Underground Airlines and The Secret Life of Bees tell related thematic concepts through distinctly similar and different ways. Both Underground Airlines and The Secret Life of Bees discuss themes along the lines of, racism and prejudice brings pain and injustice, and to not judge a book by its cover. These two thematic concepts develop together throughout the course of each novel. Each novel has an individual narrative; Underground Airlines containing one of thrills and suspense set in present day when the civil war had never taken place. The other, The Secret Life of Bees, tells a slower, realistic fiction narrative set in the 1960’s. Similarities in the process of presenting the themes are found through the topics and events both novels†¦show more content†¦The main character recounts events of horrific injustice, racism and prejudice throughout the novel. While still living with her abusive father, the main character travels with her African American maid, Rosaleen , to claim her right to vote under the recently passed Voting Rights Act. On their way to the administration building, they are stopped by three white men, all repelled by the idea that she has the right to vote. Rosaleen, enraged by these men’s flawed ideologies and racist remarks spills tobacco spit onto one man’s shoes. Rosaleen is then beaten by the men, picked up by the police, and then hit again in front of the police, resulting in no punishment for the man who assaulted Rosaleen (Kidd). This, in addition to many other examples of similar degree, display the injustices and racism faced by the African American community during the 1960’s and the reasons racism should be fought against and looked down upon for the horrific beast that it is. In addition to this, the main character also helps to express the themes of not judging a book by it’s cover, through the main character’s self revelations. Once staying with the family for a short time and meeting their friend Zach, the main character, Lily, realizes that she has held a prejudice against the African American community due to her upbringing. She learns not to judge others by their skin color, because she finds the family is more