The Destruction And Rebirth Of The Protagonist In The Secret Life Of Bees Based On Maslow’s "Hierarchy Of Needs Theory"

In the psychologist Maslow’s point of view, external or internal factors may make someone’s needs are not met perfectly. Then people will produce some bad motivations which may against the development of their own in certain stage of human development. But with the various favorable conditions, the motivations will slowly emerge and be satisfied in the suitable environment, which will offer the basis of other needs to be met.During this paper, Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees is taken as an example to analyze the destruction and rebirth of the heroine Lily before and after the age of 14. At the same time, Maslow’s "Hierarchy of Needs Theory" will be combined with the novel to talk about more deeply. During her fist 14 years, various unfavorable factors result the fact that Lily’s physiological needs, safety needs, love needs, esteem needs and self-actualization needs are not met. This disadvantageous situation leads to bad motivations. At last, due to the bad consequences which are caused by the lack of needs, she fells in destruction. Then she is always dirty and shabby; she is always fear of anything; she is always humble; she is always having no sense of dignity; she is always having no future. After 14, the people and the environment provide a good condition for her, which help her produce good motivations and ultimately help her meet the requirements. From then on, she is clean and glamorous; she is confident; she is respected and she will have a bright future.During the process, we can still get the analysis of her lacking and meeting needs in this paper. If it can help stimulate readers to think about their own demands profoundly and help them find out a good way to meet their lacked needs and produce good motivations, it will be much better both for themselves and the society.