The Apiary is a play of contradictions and juxtaposition, of beauty and horror, of connection and loss, of life and death. On it's surface it's a story exploring the meaning of life, in a very accessible way. What is the meaning of our lives? How do we derive that meaning? But it asks those questions through the lens of the end of the story of our lives. When we go, what was it all for? Explicitly discussed in the show is the definition of a good death, and the themes of sacrifice and martyrdom are clear on the surface. But what feels avoided by all the characters, and especially highlighted by the shift of "intentions" in the volunteers of the story, is that a good death is not a substitute for a life well lived. It's incumbent upon each of us to do the most we can with the life we have for ourselves and for the benefit of those around us. The bees, our neighbors, little friends, rely on us to build connections to foster a sense of community, to ensure the wellness of our hive and trust that in doing so when our time comes we won't be ushered beyond the pale alone. We can only save the bees if we learn that it's what we choose to offer that saves them.