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The Help - Discussion questions
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1. Who was your favourite character? Why?I'd say my favourite character was Johnny. I loved him for the way that his love was blind; for the way he tried to protect Celia without making her feel inadequate; for his wonder at Minny's cooking and his offer to her of a job for life; for ignoring the malicious power of Hilly Holbrook and for his loveable boy-like charm.
2. What do you think motivated Hilly? On the one hand she is terribly cruel to Aibileen and her own help, as well as to Skeeter once she realises that she can’t control her. Yet she’s a wonderful mother. Do you think that one can be a good mother but, at the same time, a deeply flawed person?
People are complex - we all have massive contradictions within our own personalities and Hilly's complexity just makes her more real. She was probably drawn by Stockett to act as the 'model of her age' illustrating the power of the 'rules' of the society and time period she inhabited. Does Hilly even realise how cruel her words and behaviours are? - I'm not so sure. At the bottom of this character is a fear of change and a terror of losing control of her world. Her loving nature towards her own children defies the stereotype and provides a hint of the person Hilly could become if she wasn't so fearful for her position – after all - there's no fear that your own children will stop loving you, the security is built right into that relationship!
3. Like Hilly, Skeeter’s mother is a prime example of someone deeply flawed yet somewhat sympathetic. She seems to care for Skeeter— and she also seems to have very real feelings for Constantine. Yet the ultimatum she gives to Constantine is untenable; and most of her interaction with Skeeter is critical. Do you think Skeeter’s mother is a sympathetic or unsympathetic character? Why?
I was ambivalent towards Skeeter's mother for a long time – after all, the critical mother is a bit of a stock character - BUT her illness made me think of her a little differently. In the end I found her sympathetic because of her regrets over losing Constantine and her realisation that it’s just not the same without her. Also for her strength of character that allowed a defiance of her Cancer to the point of going into remission.
4. How much of a person’s character would you say is shaped by the times in which they live?
I think a great deal! - I think you're absolutely a product of your up-bringing and part of that is absorbing what is going on around you. I've personally been profoundly changed by growing up during the 1980's miner’s strike, which changed the very foundations of the North East of England and is still a lasting legacy. I think genetics are responsible for much, but how those genetics develop are very much a product of environment.
5. Did it bother you that Skeeter is willing to overlook so many of Stuart’s faults so that she can get married, and that it’s not until he literally gets up and walks away that the engagement falls apart?
I don't agree that that's the way it happened. My reading was slightly different in that I believe that Skeeter was at first very sceptical of Stuart's motives. Once she grew to love him she still had many doubts - she couldn't trust him wholeheartedly with all of her secrets for example. For me, the engagement wouldn't have lasted long if it had remained in tact as I truly believe that Skeeter would have left Stuart herself anyway for that job opportunity in New York. It was a doomed affair from the start because Hilly Holbrook initially procured it, the affair was therefore to some extent poisoned.
6. Do you believe that Minny was justified in her distrust of white people?
Her experiences justify her distrust. If the lies of a white employer can profoundly affect your ability to secure even a basic living you are justified in distrusting any enterprise that involves walking that particular gauntlet!
7. Do you think that had Aibileen stayed working for Miss Elizabeth, that Mae Mobley would have grown up to be racist like her mother? Do you think racism is inherent, or taught?
It was Aibileen's experience that the babies in her care always reached an age when they came to 'see' that black people were worth less than white people. When this happened she left and sought employment elsewhere. I think that Mae Mobely would have been likely to reach that same point were it not for the civil rights movement in general and Aibileen's teachings more specifically. I want to believe that Aibileen's stories and her efforts to instil Mae Mobely with a high level of self-esteem worked. I feel that I can believe this more readily with the coldness of her mother and maternal grandmother staring her daily in the face, which should actually if there's any justice in the world make her at least think about the good and bad in everyone regardless of colour.
8. From the perspective of a twenty-first century reader, the hairshellac system that Skeeter undergoes seems ludicrous. Yet women still alter their looks in rather peculiar ways as the definition of “beauty” changes with the times. Looking back on your past, what’s the most ridiculous beauty regimen you ever underwent?
I'm too much of a wimp to do anything too ridiculous (...or painful) in the mane of beauty! I don't know why I ever got acrylic nails fitted - they ruined my own nails underneath!...but then again they did look good so...
9. The author manages to paint Aibileen with a quiet grace and an aura of wisdom about her. How do you think she does this?
Good writing is always a mysterious gift...if I knew the answer to this I'd take up writing myself! - For me Aibileen acted as a conduit, making the opinions of both white and black characters converge around her as a central point. Stockett is obviously a very gifted writer.
10. Do you think there are still vestiges of racism in relationships where people of colour work for people who are white?
I have no experience of this so I can't really comment. I suppose there is always the possibility of underlying bitterness but it would very much depend on the individuals involved. Racism is still endemic in most societies or we wouldn't still have laws to protect the rights of all races. Human relationships are notoriously complex - I don't think there's a simple answer this question.
11. What did you think about Minny’s pie for Miss Hilly? Would you have gone as far as Minny did for revenge?
The 'Terrible Awful' - I think that the device of using the pie incident as an insurance policy for the maids involved in the book project was genius. I'm not sure I'd have gone so far for revenge but it suited Minny's character and her larger than life character demanded larger than life reactions.
Ally
1. Who was your favorite character? Why?My favorite character was Aibileen, because she was able to break down barriers, and was a leader...even she looks like a follower.
2. What do you think motivated Hilly? On the one hand she is terribly cruel to Aibileen and her own help, as well as to Skeeter once she realizes that she can’t control her. Yet she’s a wonderful mother. Do you think that one can be a good mother but, at the same time, a deeply flawed person?
I think that the things that motivated Hilly were: the feeling of being in control, pride, and selfishness...wanting to look good. As I am not yet a mother, the only thing that I can say is that one can be a good mother and be flawed, or vice versa. But, again, I think she would probably be a good mother, only until her children learned to despise her.
Additionally, was she really a good mother if she always pawned her kids off on others, namely the friends or their housekeepers?
3. Like Hilly, Skeeter’s mother is a prime example of someone deeply flawed yet somewhat sympathetic. She seems to care for Skeeter— and she also seems to have very real feelings for Constantine. Yet the ultimatum she gives to Constantine is untenable; and most of her interaction with Skeeter is critical. Do you think Skeeter’s mother is a sympathetic or unsympathetic character? Why?
I think Skeeter's mother is a sympathetic character. My understanding is that she loves her life and just wants to conform, rather than being the one who bursts "society's bubble".
4. How much of a person’s character would you say is shaped by the times in which they live?
I would say that a person's character is shaped by only 50% of when or where they live. As you see, Patricia, Skeeter, Aibileen, Constantine, Minny, and many others in the book were completely opposite of what people thought they were or what they thought they should be.
5. Did it bother you that Skeeter is willing to overlook so many of Stuart’s faults so that she can get married, and that it’s not until he literally gets up and walks away that the engagement falls apart?
No, it did not bother me. I think she was left in the dark because of his pain. That with the burden from her mother and society, caused her to seek out something that was not for her (at that point in time). Ultimately, she walked away, so...I do not think it matters as much.
6. Do you believe that Minny was justified in her distrust of white people?
Yes, I think that all people of that time and era were "justified". However, I think that her character was overly confrontational, probably because that was the only thing that she could control in her life (especially with Leroy).
7. Do you think that had Aibileen stayed working for Miss Elizabeth, that Mae Mobley would have grown up to be racist like her mother? Do you think racism is inherent, or taught?
No, I think Mae Mobley would have been a free spirit like Skeeter. Additionally, I think that her mother was not necessarily a racist, but prejudice (there is a difference) and too cowardly to influence change. I think that racism is a trait that is taught over a period of time. Children do not inherently hate/fear anything, until they are taught or shown how too. For instance, a child touching a hot stove, kids hating to eat seafood because their parents dislike it, or disliking someone because of the color of their skin or perhaps religious affiliation.
8. From the perspective of a twenty-first century reader, the hairshellac system that Skeeter undergoes seems ludicrous. Yet women still alter their looks in rather peculiar ways as the definition of “beauty” changes with the times. Looking back on your past, what’s the most ridiculous beauty regimen you ever underwent?
N/A-hmmm, panty hose?
9. The author manages to paint Aibileen with a quiet grace and an aura of wisdom about her. How do you think she does this?
By making Aibileen a quiet fighter.
10. Do you think there are still vestiges of racism in relationships where people of color work for people who are white?
YES, *clears throat* I mean, yes! As a black woman in the public sector, I can see it by people's actions, peoples words, the way certain people are kept out of meetings because they are black, a co-worker tells me that I made it into Grad School because I was black, rather than on my academic merits, or how my former boss would stare at me and clutch her purse (I guess out of fear that I would steal...it is sad but funny, I came from a family that made 200k per year. My sister and I went to private school all of our lives, I did not have to pay for undergrad...but yet, I am still a "double minority" because I am black and I am a woman...is that fair?).
All that being said, I think there is also a "reverse racism" in which blacks or other "minorities" (I put minorities in quotes, because it has nothing to do with population) begin to hate other "majority" races...so the 'racism victimization cycle' never dissipates, but is transferred to another thing or person. As a human, you have to "try" not to hate, as we automatically have biases...too fat, too thin, hair too short, hair too long, you stink, your skin color is ugly, and so on...
11. What did you think about Minny’s pie for Miss Hilly? Would you have gone as far as Minny did for revenge?
I think that it was funny (because it was fictional). But really nasty. No, I think I would have put eye drops in it, or leave the pie pot to dry with a little bit of soap residue in it....so she could get watery stool!
Thanks, I think these questions were great and I hope that I have not offended anyone...I am just expressing myself, feel free to express yourself as well...maybe I will learn something from you :).
Skeeter is my favorite. I relate to her insecurities, trying to find her place when she's different than those around her, wanting more than anything to be a writer and trying to do what she can to make that happen, having a stressful relationship with her mother...
I finished the book this weekend, now to just finish the answers to the questions lol!
Hi, Roberta! I am so glad that you entered into this discussion, because I'd like to ask you this -- as a black woman, how did you feel about a white writer writing in the voices of Aibileen and Minny? I know, men write in women's voices and vice versa all the time, and not much writing would get done if you could only write in a voice similar to your own, but somehow this seemed so personal and individual that this writer could have observed it but not experienced it. As a white person, I felt kind of odd about it, but in her afterword she did admit to feeling scared about it and did a good job of explaining her own experiences, and that gave her credibility.
I read this book a little while ago now, and thought it very good. I was pleased to see how closely the movie stuck to it as well.
1. Who was your favorite character? Why?
2. What do you think motivated Hilly? On the one hand she is terribly cruel to Aibileen and her own help, as well as to Skeeter once she realizes that she can’t control her. Yet she’s a wonderful mother. Do you think that one can be a good mother but, at the same time, a deeply flawed person?
3. Like Hilly, Skeeter’s mother is a prime example of someone deeply flawed yet somewhat sympathetic. She seems to care for Skeeter— and she also seems to have very real feelings for Constantine. Yet the ultimatum she gives to Constantine is untenable; and most of her interaction with Skeeter is critical. Do you think Skeeter’s mother is a sympathetic or unsympathetic character? Why?
4. How much of a person’s character would you say is shaped by the times in which they live?
5. Did it bother you that Skeeter is willing to overlook so many of Stuart’s faults so that she can get married, and that it’s not until he literally gets up and walks away that the engagement falls apart?
6. Do you believe that Minny was justified in her distrust of white people?
7. Do you think that had Aibileen stayed working for Miss Elizabeth, that Mae Mobley would have grown up to be racist like her mother? Do you think racism is inherent, or taught?
8. From the perspective of a twenty-first century reader, the hairshellac system that Skeeter undergoes seems ludicrous. Yet women still alter their looks in rather peculiar ways as the definition of “beauty” changes with the times. Looking back on your past, what’s the most ridiculous beauty regimen you ever underwent?
9. The author manages to paint Aibileen with a quiet grace and an aura of wisdom about her. How do you think she does this?
10. Do you think there are still vestiges of racism in relationships where people of color work for people who are white?
11. What did you think about Minny’s pie for Miss Hilly? Would you have gone as far as Minny did for revenge?