The Representation of Character Education in the Characterizations of Lily Owens in Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees

Abstract

As literature is argued to bring positive character values while being an entertaining medium for learning character education, the present study analyzed the five core values of character education in The Secret Life of Bees (2001). The study focused on the characterization of Lily Owens as the main character in representing good and evil characters in children. Descriptive qualitative was used to analyze the representation of character values using the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture’s recommendation of five core values of character education as theoretical perspectives. The research revealed that Lily Owens’ characterization represented all five core values recommended by the Ministry, although with different degrees of dynamics. Religious and independent values are presented as Lily’s characters since the beginning of the novel, but nationalistic and cooperative value gradually developed along the conflicts that marks the raising actions of the plot. Integrity emerged late in the plot, yet it becale the key that unlock the mystery of Lily’s mother. The completion of the five core values in Lily Owen’s personality determined whether Lily Owens achieve the main goal at the climax of the plot. Thus, by reflecting on the core values exhibited through Lily Owens’ character development, the novel illuminates how young adults can develop strong core values through life experience.