Podcast
Questions and Answers
Is the Daughters of Mary all women?
Is the Daughters of Mary all women?
False (B)
What happens when Lily goes to touch the heart of Our Lady of Chains?
What happens when Lily goes to touch the heart of Our Lady of Chains?
June stops playing her cello causing Lily to freeze and pass out.
What is Lily's first impression of Zach?
What is Lily's first impression of Zach?
That he's handsome and that they will become good friends.
What surprises Zach about Lily?
What surprises Zach about Lily?
What is Zach's response when Lily tells him, 'You've got to hear of those things before you can imagine them'?
What is Zach's response when Lily tells him, 'You've got to hear of those things before you can imagine them'?
What feelings does Lily discover when she and Zach go into the country to harvest honey?
What feelings does Lily discover when she and Zach go into the country to harvest honey?
When Zach stops at a stop sign next to the Dixie Cafe, what happens next?
When Zach stops at a stop sign next to the Dixie Cafe, what happens next?
Which famous writer is from Tiburon?
Which famous writer is from Tiburon?
What happens when Neil and June are picking tomatoes?
What happens when Neil and June are picking tomatoes?
What does August say is the whole problem with people?
What does August say is the whole problem with people?
What is the relationship of the queen bee to all of the other bees in the hive?
What is the relationship of the queen bee to all of the other bees in the hive?
How does Lily feel when she and August go to collect honey and the bees come out and fly around her?
How does Lily feel when she and August go to collect honey and the bees come out and fly around her?
What news does Zach bring on the lunch feast day?
What news does Zach bring on the lunch feast day?
Who is Jack Palance?
Who is Jack Palance?
Who does Lily call from Mr. Forrest's office and why?
Who does Lily call from Mr. Forrest's office and why?
Who is Clayton Forrest?
Who is Clayton Forrest?
What does Lily do in the parlor after writing a letter to T.Ray and tearing it up?
What does Lily do in the parlor after writing a letter to T.Ray and tearing it up?
What is the result of Lily and June's fight over the water sprinkler?
What is the result of Lily and June's fight over the water sprinkler?
Who believes people have steel plates in their head?
Who believes people have steel plates in their head?
What does Lily discover May doing that made her feel strange and trembly?
What does Lily discover May doing that made her feel strange and trembly?
What critical piece of information does May tell Lily?
What critical piece of information does May tell Lily?
What happens when Zach and Lily ride to town to get a new radiator hose?
What happens when Zach and Lily ride to town to get a new radiator hose?
How does Lily get home after Zach's arrested?
How does Lily get home after Zach's arrested?
How did May find out about Zach being arrested?
How did May find out about Zach being arrested?
What happens to May when she finds out about Zach's being arrested?
What happens to May when she finds out about Zach's being arrested?
What happens to May after she goes to the wailing wall for the last time?
What happens to May after she goes to the wailing wall for the last time?
Who questions Lily and Rosaleen after May's death?
Who questions Lily and Rosaleen after May's death?
What messages does Lily have for May during the vigil?
What messages does Lily have for May during the vigil?
How does Zach get out of jail?
How does Zach get out of jail?
What is August's reply when Lily asks if she believes putting black cloths over the hives will help May get to heaven?
What is August's reply when Lily asks if she believes putting black cloths over the hives will help May get to heaven?
What brings Lily the most cause for gladness while the Daughters of Mary are holding vigil for May?
What brings Lily the most cause for gladness while the Daughters of Mary are holding vigil for May?
What important message is in May's note to August and June?
What important message is in May's note to August and June?
What is August's advice to June after reading May's note?
What is August's advice to June after reading May's note?
What is Mary Day?
What is Mary Day?
When is Mary Day?
When is Mary Day?
What big event happens on the first morning of Mary Day?
What big event happens on the first morning of Mary Day?
Who makes the hats in The Daughters of Mary?
Who makes the hats in The Daughters of Mary?
Why does Lily leave the honey house while everyone seems to be meditating with Our Lady in Chains?
Why does Lily leave the honey house while everyone seems to be meditating with Our Lady in Chains?
What promise does Zach make to Lily?
What promise does Zach make to Lily?
On what Mary Day does Lily finally talk to August?
On what Mary Day does Lily finally talk to August?
When Lily looks into the book called Mary Through The Ages in August's room, what most shocks her?
When Lily looks into the book called Mary Through The Ages in August's room, what most shocks her?
What reason does August give Lily for not telling her sooner about her mother?
What reason does August give Lily for not telling her sooner about her mother?
Why did June treat Lily so badly when she first came to the Boatwrights' house?
Why did June treat Lily so badly when she first came to the Boatwrights' house?
Who was Tica Tee?
Who was Tica Tee?
Why did Deborah Fontanel come to Sylvan?
Why did Deborah Fontanel come to Sylvan?
Why did Deborah marry T.Ray?
Why did Deborah marry T.Ray?
What does August tell Lily about her mother that makes Lily say, 'I hate her'?
What does August tell Lily about her mother that makes Lily say, 'I hate her'?
What has August had to live without knowing all these years?
What has August had to live without knowing all these years?
What are August's parting words to Lily as she stands in the doorway after putting her to bed on the night of their big conversation?
What are August's parting words to Lily as she stands in the doorway after putting her to bed on the night of their big conversation?
What does Lily do after August leaves her in the honey house after their talk?
What does Lily do after August leaves her in the honey house after their talk?
What is Rosaleen's response when Lily asks her why she never told her what she knew about her mother?
What is Rosaleen's response when Lily asks her why she never told her what she knew about her mother?
Why do the Daughters of Mary rub honey all over Our Lady?
Why do the Daughters of Mary rub honey all over Our Lady?
What does the hat box August brings to Lily in the honey house contain?
What does the hat box August brings to Lily in the honey house contain?
Why is the photograph in the hat box so important?
Why is the photograph in the hat box so important?
How does having her mother's things and knowing the whole story affect Lily?
How does having her mother's things and knowing the whole story affect Lily?
Where does Rosaleen go in her new red dress with big white flowers?
Where does Rosaleen go in her new red dress with big white flowers?
After talking with Zach on the telephone, what does Lily think?
After talking with Zach on the telephone, what does Lily think?
Lily sees August and June hugging on the floor. What does August say to June that she intends also for Lily?
Lily sees August and June hugging on the floor. What does August say to June that she intends also for Lily?
What does August take Lily out to see first thing in the morning?
What does August take Lily out to see first thing in the morning?
What happens to the bees when the queen dies?
What happens to the bees when the queen dies?
What does August tell Lily that she always wants Lily to remember?
What does August tell Lily that she always wants Lily to remember?
How does T.Ray find Lily?
How does T.Ray find Lily?
What is Mr. Forrest's secretary's name?
What is Mr. Forrest's secretary's name?
What happens in the afternoon after August had taken Lily to see the queenless colony?
What happens in the afternoon after August had taken Lily to see the queenless colony?
How does Lily act when T.Ray comes inside the Boatwrights' house?
How does Lily act when T.Ray comes inside the Boatwrights' house?
Who gave Deborah the gold whale-shaped pin and when?
Who gave Deborah the gold whale-shaped pin and when?
What happens to T.Ray when he finds out that Deborah had been at the Boatwrights' home when she left him?
What happens to T.Ray when he finds out that Deborah had been at the Boatwrights' home when she left him?
Why did T.Ray confuse Lily with Deborah?
Why did T.Ray confuse Lily with Deborah?
What brings T.Ray back to his senses?
What brings T.Ray back to his senses?
What declaration does Lily make to T.Ray?
What declaration does Lily make to T.Ray?
Who comes to help Lily in her struggle against T.Ray?
Who comes to help Lily in her struggle against T.Ray?
What does August do to help diffuse the situation between T.Ray and Lily?
What does August do to help diffuse the situation between T.Ray and Lily?
Lily runs after T.Ray as he leaves, yelling for him to stop. What does she ask him, and what is his response?
Lily runs after T.Ray as he leaves, yelling for him to stop. What does she ask him, and what is his response?
Who is Becca?
Who is Becca?
What happens to Becca and Lily at school?
What happens to Becca and Lily at school?
What is the closing image of the novel?
What is the closing image of the novel?
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Study Notes
Daughters of Mary
- Not exclusively women; Sugar-girl's husband Otis attends services.
- Involves community and offers a support system for women.
Lily's Experiences
- Touching the heart of Our Lady of Chains causes Lily to freeze; she faints.
- Lily has an immediate attraction to Zach, perceiving him as handsome and a potential friend.
- Zach is taken by surprise to discover Lily's race, which adds complexity to their budding friendship.
Critical Dialogues
- Lily expresses the need to know before imagining experiences; Zach counters with a belief in the power of imagination.
- Lily's emotional state fluctuates during interactions with Zach, revealing her growing feelings for him.
- During a moment of vulnerability, Lily cries in front of Zach, illustrating her emotional struggles.
Community Dynamics
- A famous novelist, Willifred Merchant, hails from Tiburon, adding cultural significance to the setting.
- Tensions arise when Neil and June argue over mundane tasks, highlighting interpersonal conflicts within their relationship.
Life Lessons from August
- August notes the irony in people knowing what matters but often failing to choose it, showcasing her wisdom.
- She serves as a motherly figure for Lily, guiding her understanding of love, loss, and life’s complexities.
Bee Metaphors
- The queen bee is the matriarch, vital for the hive's survival, symbolizing motherhood.
- August teaches Lily that Our Lady symbolizes the inner strength within oneself rather than a distant figure.
Lily's Family History
- Lily's complicated feelings towards her mother, Deborah, reveal deep-seated issues of abandonment and resentment.
- August reveals secrets about Deborah that shatter Lily's understanding of her mother, igniting anger and sorrow.
May's Influence and Tragedy
- May’s death acts as a catalyst for Lily and the community, exemplifying the impact of loss on collective grief.
- May believed in helping others find peace, leaving behind poignant messages that resonate throughout the narrative.
Thematic Elements
- The notion of Mary Day, held on August 15, signifies resilience, community support, and gratitude for life.
- Lily's confrontation with T.Ray exemplifies her growth and resolve to separate from an abusive past, asserting her independence.
Relationships and Support Systems
- August and Rosaleen provide crucial support during Lily's moments of crisis, emphasizing the importance of female solidarity.
- The novel closes with strong imagery of eight women representing the maternal figure Lily longed for, symbolizing unity and strength.
Confrontations and Resolutions
- T.Ray's violent outburst triggers a dramatic climax, forcing Lily to confront her trauma and ultimately assert her autonomy.
- The narrative explores the complexity of race, friendship, and self-identity within the character dynamics, culminating in profound personal growth for Lily.
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