1. Seeking Love and Acceptance: Both characters yearn for a loving and accepting environment. Lily, orphaned and abused, desperately needs a place where she feels safe and loved. Deborah, despite her wealth and status, feels isolated and unfulfilled in her marriage. She finds solace and connection in her relationship with August and the bees.
2. Searching for Identity: Lily is struggling to understand her own identity, particularly after her mother's death and her own traumatic experiences. Deborah, too, is grappling with her own identity, questioning her role as a wife and her own desires and aspirations.
3. Challenging Societal Norms: Both Lily and Deborah, in their own ways, challenge societal expectations. Lily rebels against the strict and oppressive environment of her childhood. Deborah, though initially content in her role as a wealthy Southern wife, eventually rebels against her stifling marriage and seeks her own happiness.
4. Strong Connection to Nature: Both characters find solace and strength in nature. Lily finds peace and comfort in the bee yard, and Deborah uses her love for bees to express herself creatively.
5. Shared Empathy and Compassion: Lily and Deborah both possess a deep empathy for others. Lily is particularly sensitive to the pain and struggles of others, and Deborah's love for the bees reflects her gentle and caring nature.
While their backgrounds and circumstances differ vastly, Lily and Deborah share a common longing for love, acceptance, and self-discovery, making their connection in the story both powerful and meaningful.