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Elah Hirschberg

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The Help

by Kathryn Stockett (Goodreads Author)

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Elah Hirschberg said: " “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett, is written from the 3 different points of view of the 3 main characters. It is set in Jackson Mississippi, in 1962 at the beginning of the civil rights movement in America. The novel focuses on the relationships betwe “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett, is written from the 3 different points of view of the 3 main characters. It is set in Jackson Mississippi, in 1962 at the beginning of the civil rights movement in America. The novel focuses on the relationships between black maids and their employers, which is a very mistrustful and exploitative relationship. On pages 105-106 Miss Skeeter is explaining to Miss Stein her book idea and she says: “They raise a white child and then twenty years later the child becomes the employer. It’s that irony, that we love them and they love us, yet...We don’t even allow them to use the toilet in the house.” The main characters are Aibileen, Minny, and Miss Skeeter. Aibileen is a a black maid nurturing her 17th white child while trying to get over the death of her own son. Minny, Aibileen’s friend, also a maid is a great cook but is known for having a big mouth. Miss Skeeter is the white friend of Aibileen and Minny’s bosses. She has just returned home from college and she is starting her career as a writer. The three characters are not allowed to interact as friends by law, but their strong belief in change and speaking their mind brings them together.

In the novel, the author discusses the notion of human rights through the setting, characters, and situations they are in. During the time the novel is set in, colored people had no rights. For example colored and white people couldn’t share the same books, markets, or doctors. They couldn’t even sit in the same parts of the bus. While some of the characters in the book support the race situation, others object to these laws and find ways to disobey them. Some of these characters find themselves in complicated and unfair situations. For example, on page 193 Aibileen is on a bus on her way home at a late hour. Once the bus reaches her neighborhood it stops because there has been a dangerous incident further down the road. The bus driver offers the white people on the bus a ride home, but tells all the colored people to get off the bus immediately, and Aibileen is forced to run home alone terrified for her life.

I liked the book very much. The characters are well developed through language choice and descriptions. For example, when some of the colored people speak, the author uses colloquial language to strengthen their character. The imagery is detailed, the plot is interesting, and the message of the novel is very important as well. My favorite part of the book is when the main characters get together and understand that they have the power to change people’s views. My least favorite parts are when the white women speak badly of their maids and treat them badly as well. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction. It takes a very important time in history and uses an interesting plot to captivate the readers. Even though the book is fairly long, I would recommend it even to people who have difficulty reading. The story is engaging, the character’s emotions are relatable, and I couldn’t put the book down. ...more "

Jun 13, 2013 02:46AM · see review