The Murmur of Bees

The Murmur of Bees details a complex Mexican society in which an unspoken, universal recognition of two basic populations—a privileged upper class and an unprivileged lower class—affects all aspects of life. Segovia differentiates between these two tiers not by overtly naming them but through distinct descriptions of each. For example, the upper-class Morales family is depicted as being fair skinned, steeped in traditional rituals, devoutly Catholic, and deeply concerned about maintaining established standards of propriety. By contrast, Segovia depicts lower-class individuals like Nana Reja and Anselmo as dark-skinned, rooted in superstitious beliefs, and largely ignorant of the regimented social interactions of the landowner class. The author implies that the upper class is composed largely of Spanish descendants and the lower-class of Indigenous peoples descended from inhabitants before Europeans arrived.

Segovia reveals the mindsets of the two groups by describing their desires and fears. The upper-class population is fully invested in maintaining social mores dating back to Spanish occupation: festivals, rites of passage, property succession, and church ties. Land ownership is an assumed, unquestioned right among members of this group. Many upper-class individuals, particularly Beatriz and Francisco, perceive themselves as responsible for the welfare of the lower-class individuals within their purview.