Character Analysis - The Help

The Help

Essay

Change can be scary. It's different from what you know. But change can also be a really good thing.

Skeeter used to turn away when her friends mistreated their help, or pranked their children. She never gave the black people a second look, they were just maids. The only black woman she idolized and loved was the maid who raised her, Constantine. Constantine was always there for Skeeter growing up. She was like a mom to her. I think that Skeeter started to realize how society was set up when she got home from school and Constantine was gone. Skeeter stared to notice things, small things, like how differently people acted around and towards Negros. She found a booklet of the laws that separate the black and white people and found it astonishing. That's when her idea of writing the book about maids and their stories began. She soon became good friends with Minny and Aibileen. Other maids trusted her enough to be apart of the book too. Her so-called friend, Miss Hilly, became suspicious of what Skeeter was up to when she found the book of laws in her bag. Before she knew it, nobody would even say hello to Skeeter. Then, it was just her, the help, and the book. Skeeter needed this book so bad, needed to make a difference around Jackson, Mississippi. Around the world. Skeeter evolved from this sheltered girl who didn't question much, to a woman who was risking her life for her negro friends, and for a change.

Minny was a hard strong woman hiding behind fear. Fear of herself being beaten by white people and her husband. Fear for her children, that she won't be able to feed them one day. Fear of being weak. Minny has such a sass mouth and strong attitude. Wouldn't take shit from any one. When her husband drinks too much and starts pushing her around, there was nothing she could do but let it happen.

Minny would never trust a white woman, they were no good to her. White women never treated her with respect, always being rude and lazy. So Minny wasn't so sure about the idea of talking to Skeeter about her stories. She had a family to take care of and the last thing she needed was someone burning her house down for talking to a white women. But there was a part of Minny that wanted to get it all out. She wanted a difference too, for her children and their future. She was hesitant at first but she soon trusted Skeeter. And not only did she trust Skeeter, a bond between her and her new boss, Miss Celia, was formed. Miss Celia didn't treat her like a maid. She treated her like a friend, with respect and loyalty. She slowly became softer with Miss Celia, more caring. She worried about her when she didn't eat, or didn't leave to house, or lingered upstairs too much. Both Mis Celia and Mister Johnny cared about Minny and were so grateful to have her. She learnt that not all men are bad.

When Minny's husband found out about the book that Minny was apart of, he went crazy. She thought this time he would actually kill her. But Minny found the strength to get her and the kids out of there. She left her husband and that was something she never had the courage to do before.

Aibileen used to be quiet and she kept to herself a lot. She did what she was told and that was that. When Skeeter asked her to be apart of the book, Aibileen got really scared at first. What if people found out and killed her? But there was something inside Aibileen that wanted to speak out and make a difference so much. She wanted a better future for everyone. So she started working with Skeeter, and soon they had a real good friendship going.

Aibileen loved the little girl she was taking care of, Mae Mobely. She wanted Mae Mobely to have a nice life, she wanted her to feel loved and happy with herself. She wanted her to know that there was no difference between black and whites, especially after she started writing the book. She didn't that Mae Mobely to end up like her mama. So everyday Aibileen would tell Mae Mobely nice things about herself. And everyday Aibileen would tell her a “secret story” which would be about how white and coloured people are the same, that colour doesn't matter. Aibileen knew that is Miss Leefolt found out what she's teaching her daughter, they would both be in trouble, but they both understood the meaning of “Secret”. Aibileen went from this women who didn't talk much and respected peoples wishes, to a women who needed to change the way some people viewed the coloured. She risked her life, job, and friends to make a difference, and that's bravery.

All these women matured in their own ways. Change can be a good thing. It can make a difference. It can determine who are you. It can teach the difference between wrong and right. It can unit people as one.