The Help
I chose to write my text review assignment on The Help by Kathryn Stockett. This historical novel is based on the main character Miss Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan writing narratives from the viewpoint of 12 black maids in the early 1960’s. Skeeter is a young graduate from Ole Miss University who writes a column for the Jackson Journal giving advice about housekeeping. This novel depicts major ideals of power and injustice throughout its duration. The most prominent of these ideals is injustice. The 1960s are known to be some of the racially unjust times in America. The main antagonist in the novel, Hilly, uses her social status to influence the people around her, including both the court system and local businesses, to target and prevent the success of black people, namely women. In addition to this, we are constantly reminded of how black people are viewed at this time throughout the novel with the language and actions used against them. The concept of othering can be applied to this novel because of this injustice. Many of the white people in this novel are basing themselves and their success in life on, what they view as the opposing group, the black community. The next ideal displayed, power, can be seen by both sides. Hilly shows power by influencing the people around her while Skeeter shows power while writing about the 12 black maids. When Skeeter’s book comes out, it shocks the people around her. I believe that the author intends on displaying the injustices occurring during this time period. She also displays how the power of just one person can influence the minds and bring justice to the people around them. I think that the novel does an excellent job of showing how change needed to occur during this time period by writing this historical novel.