Individuality vs. The Collective Whole

In The Bees, Laline Paull presents a world where the Collective is valued over the Individual. Bees are, in nature, programmed to follow this way of life, but by giving the reader a glimpse into a beehive through the mind of one individual bee, she suggests that all created beings have a desire to distinguish themselves.

Throughout the plot the reader sees examples of The Hive elevated over an individual bee, and is taught to understand why this must be so. At the same time, there are countless characters that feel their own identity infringing on the collective and struggle to find the balance between self and sacrifice.

The main character, Flora, is already distinguishable from her 9,000 "sisters" because she has exceptional talents. She is born into the lowest caste of bees, and yet shows abilities that borrow from several other of...