"The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

My Reflections on “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett

     I feel like I know the characters so well after reading “The Help.” The author did a great job describing the characters and their stories. I could picture the person that all of  the characters were. It was fun reading this novel. Aibileen was a nice, motherly character. Minny was a spunky person who spoke her mind often getting herself in trouble. Skeeter was an intelligent, career minded activist in hiding.

     In “The Help,” a period in time when racial tensions were high was depicted. The story was told from several characters’ point of view. The sweet, older maid Aibileen felt like an old nanny who loved and adored children. It seemed like it would be difficult to be mean to someone like that. Her employer seemed pressured to treat her prejudicially in order to fit in. Skeeter seemed like she was pressured to fit in with her circle of friends even though she didn’t like the way they treated the help or their children. It was not surprising that two characters such as Aibileen and Skeeter would make such friendly cohorts while writing together. Both of these characters seem to care about people and the injustices that women were experiencing that they knew. They seemed bothered by the things happening in the world and their community as well.

     The story had some interesting characters as well. Hilly, Minny, and Celia were lively characters that kept the story going. Hilly and Minny seemed hostile throughout most of the story. Celia seemed like a misfit and a little crazy at times.

     I think the novel, “The Help,” depicted a time when African American people were mistreated and longed for equal treatment. The novel had a good message. By writing the stories, the characters hoped to make changes in the way things were similar to  the way Civil Right movements do.