The Help

Julia Pearson

The Help

Kathryn Stockett

Historical Fiction

Just Right

pg. 348

1. A lot has happened in the book so far. The story takes place in Jackson, Mississippi, a town overrun with racism. Three points of view are shared- two maids, Aibileen and Minnie, and one white society lady, Skeeter. Skeeter is fed up with all that is going on and has decided to right a book about the goods and bads working for white ladies when you are a black maid. Nobody wanted to interview, because it is so risky, but Aibileen has and she got others to do it, including Minnie. Skeeter is in trouble now because the book is due in two weeks, or else the publisher will put it in the "pile". She is also shunned by Miss Hilly, her former best friend, and all the other ladies. Minnie is working for Miss Celia, a white lady who grew up in Sugar Ditch, a "white trash" town. She married Johnny, who is really nice, and now has money. None of the society ladies like her, because of Miss Hilly, the most popular lady in town. Miss Hilly doesn't like her because she married Johnny, and Hilly went steady with Johnny for a long time. Miss Celia went to the benefit and got drunk, and made a fool of herself. Nobody will talk to her, especially now. Minnie is dealing with this, and her abusive husband, and interviewing with Skeeter. Aibileen is working for Elisabeth, Skeeter's former friend. Aibileen is raising Elisabeth's child and she is determined this time to show Mae Mobely that whites are no different than blacks. This is only a brief summary of what is happening right now, the plot is very deep.

2. I love this book. It is amazing. First of all, I love the way Kathryn Stockett writes. She has a different style for each character's point of view, and all are perfect. I also love the plots. It keeps getting better and better, the farther I read. She weaves in a lot of historical events into it, and some of the racism is very sad, but the characters each fight back in there own way, and it makes the reader cheer on with them. Over all, it is very interesting, empowering, insightful, bittersweet, sad and beautiful.

3. The theme in the book would have to be ignorance. It is on almost every page. The society ladies and almost every one else are so ignorant, they just don't get it. They are like stubborn children holding on to their beliefs because they don't want to be proven wrong. They all think blacks have diseases, are dumber, have no feelings. The maids are sort of habitual to this, but they still are stung every time some injustice comes there way.

4.My favorite character is Miss Celia. First I didn't like her very much. She was always lying on her bed all day long, doing nothing, and she was always trying to talk to Hilly and her friends, even though they obviously didn't like her. I even was disgusted by her when Minnie though she was a drunk, but then I learned the truth. She was just trying to please Johnny, and she finally understands that she doesn't need Miss Hilly- that Hilly is a two faced, racist pig. She is also very innocent to all the proper ways to be with people. She talks to Minnie like they are friends, treats her like a friend, and doesn't mind that she is black.

5. My least favorite character is Miss. Hilly. This is because she is so evil. She has so much power, being the most popular woman in town, and she uses it to shun people that she doesn't like, for any reason. She can ruin anyone, and she does. Also, she is very racist and even goes so far as to advertise the need to have separate bathrooms for colored help so they don't pass diseases.

6. I think Skeeter will find out what happened to her beloved maid Constantine and publish her book, that Aibileen will change Mae Mobely's life, and that Minnie and Miss Celia will become very good friends.