Book "The Help": reviews, reviews, plot, main characters and idea of the novel

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The Help (originally titled The Help) is the debut novel by American writer Katherine Stockett. In the center of the work are the subtleties of the relationship between white Americans and their servants, most of whom were Africans. This is a unique work that was written by an incredibly talented and sensitive woman. This can be seen from the very first pages of the book.

The theme of this story is incredibly relevant to America, which at the beginning of the 20th century was mired in completely unfounded hatred and disdain for black people. And even after so many years, books that reveal the truth about those years in all its ugliness are of great interest to Americans.

There is no more difficult topic for a writer from the South than the feeling of attachment between blacks and whites in an unequal world of segregation. Due to the insincerity that prevails in society, any emotions are suspicious, and it is impossible to fully understand what is happeningbetween two people is a sincere feeling, or just pity, or a manifestation of pragmatism.

However, not only this factor became the key to the success of the book "The Help". Reviews indicate that this novel is written incredibly easily and interestingly, despite the terrible reality of those times that it illuminates. Today we will discuss the plot, characters and ideas of this work.

How was the book created?

Katherine Stockett began writing The Help in 2001. The terrorist attack that took place on September 11, 2001 was the impetus. As a result, 2977 people and 19 terrorists were killed. It was the largest terrorist attack in American history. How does it relate to Stockett's work? We will discuss this point later.

Catherine at that time was in New York and worked as a journalist in a publishing house. The writer herself later said that the plot of the book "The Help" was based on her childhood memories. A black woman named Demetri also served in her parents' home. Catherine later regretted that she "wasn't old enough and smart enough" to find out how she lived in the service of the "whites" in Mississippi. For many years, the writer admitted, she asked herself what Demetri would answer her. That is why she wrote this book. She tried to answer her own questions.

"Servant" the author wrote for five years. It was not easy, given the deep roots of this tragic theme in American history. It is noteworthy that after the completion of the novel, whenKatherine was ready to publish it, she was refused by 60 publishing houses. Subsequently, they probably regretted this rash decision, because the novel was an unprecedented success. And all thanks to literary agent Susan Roemer, who agreed to introduce Katherine.

The novel was published in 2009. Already in 2010, Stockett's book "The Help" was published in 35 countries and translated into 40 languages of the world, including Russian and Ukrainian. In August 2011, more than 5 million copies have already been sold, in 2012 - more than 10 million. For 100 weeks, the work was on the New York Times bestseller list. An unprecedented success, especially given the many rave reviews from critics.

Book plot

The novel takes place in the early 1960s in the city of Jackson (USA, Mississippi). The story is told in the first person, alternately by three women - two black maids and a young aspiring white writer.

For the reader to better understand who we are talking about, we present a short list of the main characters of the book.

1. Eugenia "Skeeter" (from the English skitter - "mosquito", "mosquito") Phelan is an aspiring writer. The girl was born in a we althy family and studied for 4 years in another city at the institute. But now she returned to her hometown with the hope of becoming a writer. Parents do not understand this and try to marry the girl as soon as possible, but she is sure that she will remain an old maid. The family owns the Longleaf cotton plantation. Most of the workers are African Americans.

2. Aibileen Clark is an elderly black woman whose duties include cleaning and looking after the owners' children. She works for the Leefolt family and looks after the employers' daughter. Mae Mobley, despite the we alth of her parents, is incredibly lonely. And only the kind Aibileen, who has already raised 17 children at her former jobs, seems close and dear to her. Aibileen lost her adult son in an accident. Now the whole world seems to her painted black, although outwardly she remains a friendly and smiling woman.

3. Minnie Jackson is Aibileen's best friend. Her husband Lorey often drinks and beats her. The woman has five children. However, Minnie is remarkable not for this - she is distinguished by a sharp tongue, which is probably known to all of Jackson. Minnie doesn't know how to keep her mouth shut, constantly being rude to the white lady. She has already had to leave 10 gentlemen due to her explosive nature. However, Minnie is an excellent cook. That is why she is hired despite her sharp tongue.

Also in the novel there is a rather colorful character - Celia Foote, the wife of a we althy businessman. A beautiful blonde who grew up in one of the poorest areas of the city, she treats people of color as equals. However, she can't find any white friends in town.

We must not forget about the main villain of the novel, which was the former close friend of Skeeter - Hilly Holbrook. The pampered lady, whom the girl used to love very much, suddenly turned into an evil bitch, as soon as Skeeter moved away from high society"white".

Stockett colorfully describes the events. It gives attention to the smallest details that make the picture complete for the reader. Before his mind's eye appears a tall, refined Eugenia (in Russian translation she is called Evgenia) with almost white curls, a short full Minnie with voluminous breasts, an elderly Aibileen with a kind smile.

So, Aibileen serves in the Leefolt family and looks after little Mae Mobley. Mistress does not treat her very well, as she is arrogant, but Aibileen is very attached to May Mobley. She tries to give the girl the love that they are deprived of due to parental coldness.

Minnie Jackson recently lost her last job. She was kicked out of the house only because she dared to use the toilet of the owners, while she was obliged to visit only "her own". However, there was such a thunderstorm outside that Minnie decided to disobey the mistress. It is noteworthy that in addition to losing her job, the woman was also slandered. The former owner said that the woman stole the family silver from her deaf mother, who was looked after by Minnie. The rumor spread throughout the city - and now the woman can no longer get a job. However, a call rings from Celia Foote's house. She wants to take a woman to work. Minnie starts working for a businessman's wife. She helps her around the house and even teaches her how to cook.

Skeeter at this time is looking for his nanny, who disappeared on the eve of her return home. When the girl received her last letter, Constantine clearly had no intention of leaving. intelligible answer, wheregone babysitter, Skeeter doesn't get from mother.

During one of the meetings of white women with whom Eugenia is friends, Mrs. Holbrook (it was Minnie who worked for her) brings up the topic that colored servants and owners should have different toilets. After all, dark-skinned people are much more likely to get sick with some kind of infection. Skeeter does not support this idea. It is at this moment that she begins to wonder what a huge abyss separates black servants from the world of masters.

She decides to write a book describing what life is like for women of color in American homes. However, it is very difficult to bring this idea to life. After all, such frankness on the part of servants can threaten them with serious problems. Black women perceive the request to tell about their lives with surprise and distrust. However, Skitter cannot give up her idea, she believes that her book will help people look at the servants differently. The girl sends the sketches of the book to the New York publishing house, but she is advised to ask a dozen more women, to supplement the book with stories.

Soon, albeit very reluctantly, the maids do start giving Skeeter interviews. They, too, want to talk about the injustice that thrives in small American towns.

At this time, President Kennedy tragically dies. Skeeter is working hard on the book, more and more women agree to give her anonymous interviews. Probably, this decision is given to them more easily due to the deterioration of interracial relations in the city. Cases of beatings and murders are becoming more frequent. Eugenia takes these events up close.to the heart.

Completely by chance, Skeeter's friends find out about her work on the book. So their friend is supporting women of color? Skeeter loses her usual social circle, but very quickly realizes that this is not so important to her.

At last the girl learns the truth about her beloved Constantine. It turns out that the woman left the Phelan house because of a quarrel between her daughter and Eugenia's mother. However, the woman did not live even a month in Chicago - she died shortly after moving. This news comes as a blow to Skeeter. She loved Constantine so much! She looked at Mrs. Phelan with new eyes, as she did at all "high society" whites. Can these people really be so cruel? On the advice of the publisher, the girl also describes this story in her book.

Finally, Skeeter sends the manuscript to New York. It will either be approved or rejected. While waiting for the verdict, the girl helps take care of her terminally ill mother. Her romance with Stuart, a relative of her now ex-girlfriend, slowly develops. However, as soon as she tells him about her book, Stuart decides to break off the engagement.

At this time, the answer comes from New York. The book will be published! Of course, in the small town of Jackson, some have a hunch about who wrote the book and who were its co-authors. However, time puts everything in its place.

Skeeter leaves for New York, Minnie leaves her husband, who beat her mercilessly, and Aibileen, fired from her previous job, begins to write a column in the newspaper devoted to household chores. The book is gradually gaining popularity.

Reviews about the book "The Help"Stockett

Perhaps, this book is one of the few that caused such an abundance of reviews. And almost all are positive. Because it is impossible not to fall in love with this work. It is unique and one of a kind.

In order for the reader to appreciate the extent of his charms, quotes from the book "The Help" by Katherine Stockett will be given hereinafter.

A book within a book

Readers say that to find in the work a description of how the book was created is very exciting and unusual. You don't see this kind of plot twist very often. But it's so interesting to watch how in the small world that is a book, another book is created, and what kind of work it costs the writer. Perhaps you will not find such a voluminous and vivid writing in any other work.

Relevance

In America, the topic of racism is very acute even now, 58 years after the events described in the book, Americans remember everything that happened then. However, not only the theme of racial inequality is present in the book. This is a truly feminine work in which Katherine Stockett showed the hard life of the beautiful half of humanity in all its unsightly beauty.

– Every morning until you die and are buried in the ground, you will have to make this decision. Constantine sat so close that I could see the pores on her black skin. – You will have to ask yourself: “Am I going to believe what these fools will say about me today?”

Aibileen is single. She continues to suffer from the loss of her son and will suffer for the rest of her life until shebreak off. After all, the pain of losing a child bleeds in the mother's heart continuously. This kind woman devoted her whole life to the children of the masters, whom she loved as her own. What did she see in return? Neglect, distrust and even hatred.

Remembering when Baby was spanked because of me. I remember that she listened to Miss Leefolt call me dirty, contagious. The bus speeds down State Street. We cross the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and I clench my jaw with such force that my teeth almost break. I feel like the bitter seed that settled in me after the death of Trilore grows and grows. I want to scream so loud for Baby to hear me that dirt is not skin color, and infection is not in the Negro part of the city.

Not to mention little Mae Mobley, who, deprived of the love and affection of her parents, is desperately looking for her from a maid. For many readers (reviews of the novel "The Help" note this), it was the unfortunate child that caused tears in their eyes.

Minnie is also miserable in her own way. Not only can she not find a common language with any of the "white ladies" because of her sharp tongue and impudent disposition, she is also unhappy in marriage. Her husband drinks and beats her. They are completely different people. But Minnie is not discouraged. She is full of a lust for life, which does not allow her to plunge into the viscous swamp of depression.

This moment Stockett probably borrowed from Demetri's biography. Her husband is also not very nice to her, so she never talked about him.

Not every woman decides to leave her husband and be left alone with five children. Alas, todaywomen are increasingly sacrificing their own interests, preferring them a complete family. However, this is a fundamentally wrong decision, because it leads children to mental trauma, and mothers to the brink of a nervous breakdown. But our heroine Minnie has a great sense of humor that keeps her optimism alive.

Yes, she is the first to respond at roll call in the madhouse.

At the same time, Minnie's character aroused mixed feelings among some readers. On the one hand, she tolerates the arrogance and tyranny of the owners, which in no way can add to her kindness and politeness; on the other hand, she is a very harmful person who does not appreciate Celia's good attitude towards herself.

Eugenia, who everyone just calls Miss Skeeter, is a very notorious and unhappy girl. All her life she was told that a lady should be fragile and petite, not tall and slender. They were convinced that she was obliged to look for a husband, and not dream of becoming a writer. Mom was unhappy with her all her life, which caused the girl to have a pathological self-doubt.

Society imposes boundaries on her that she hasn't had the courage to cross for years. But she proved that she is a very strong person who does not care about the opinions of others. Eugenia has learned to wear short dresses, do as she pleases, and write what really matters to her. And even the departure of her lover, she perceives calmly, as she understands that she met with him rather for the sake of her mother.

Celia Foote is also an unhappy woman in her own way. She got married, she has the love of her husband and financial independence. And this man withamazing patience with her. However, somewhere inside Celia remains a girl who grew up in one of the most dangerous areas of the city. "White ladies" do not accept her into their close circle, she feels abandoned and lonely. The miscarriages that follow one after the other plunge her into a viscous depression.

Realistic

In their reviews of The Help, readers note that the book is incredibly realistic. Yes, some people think that the characters are too exaggerated, however, when reading a book, how can one agree with this opinion? The simple language of the narrative does not seem repulsive, on the contrary, it only adds realism to the work. The reader seems to be talking to the characters - and this makes them seem even more dear and closer to him.

Realism shines through in every sentence of the book "The Help". In the reviews, readers point out the moments that make it truly alive and understandable. For example, the moment when Celia Foot vomited right in front of the guests at one of the social evenings. The scene where Eugenia's potential fiancé gets drunk right in the restaurant and stares at busty young women. It is in this way that the author shows that all the characters in the book are far from ideal. They have both positive and negative traits.

There is no romantic happy ending here either. Probably precisely because the author of The Help sought to show the life of a small Mississippi town in all its beauty and ugliness. The lives of the heroines have changed for the better, but they have not turned into a fairy tale. Closing the book by Katherine Stockett "The Help", readers notice in the reviews that it is felt that this is not the end. And somewhere out there in a small book world, Skeeter keeps writing books that are gaining popularity, Minnie still cooks in Celia Foote's kitchen, and Aibileen…maybe babysitting her nineteenth baby?

I always thought madness was scary, dark and bitter, but it turns out that when you actually dive into it, it's soft and delicious.

Humor

Many readers are impressed by the language of writing. He seems to bring them closer to the heroes of the book. The presentation itself makes you want to continue reading, because it is incredibly easy and exciting. Although it was this language of a simple hard-working woman from the people that pushed some readers away on the first pages. But then they were so imbued with the atmosphere reigning in the work that they stopped paying attention to this annoying nuance. However, it should be noted that one must be able to write about the difficult in such a simple and accessible language. Therefore, the lexicon should not be considered a drawback of this work at all. We recommend reading "The Help" by Katherine Stockett in English to compare with the translation.

-Breasts are for bedrooms and breastfeeding, not social events.

- And what do you want her to do? Leave breasts at home?!

Katherine Stockett has set herself a rather difficult task. She wanted to show not only tragic situations, but also funny ones. After all, our daily life is full of them: laughter is interspersed with tears, joy is replaced bysadness. Therefore, when reading a novel (especially sensitive ones even manage to cry), the reader does not feel the pressure of problems. He is interested, and most importantly easy, given the development of the book. In order to write such a work, not only knowledge of psychology and writing skills is required, but also a great sense of humor.

Mrs. Charlotte Phelan's Husband Hunt Instructions. Rule number one: a petite pretty girl is adorned with makeup and good manners. Tall and expressionless, a trust fund. I was five foot eleven, but I had twenty-five thousand cotton dollars in my bank account, and if that's not real beauty, then oh my god, the guy isn't smart enough to be part of the family anyway.

Open final

Most readers who have written reviews of "The Help" note that the open ending left a lot of questions. And if in some books it looks quite logical, then in this work it leaves an aftertaste of incompleteness.

However, this issue is debatable, because the author showed in the last chapters what changes in their own destinies women managed to achieve. And all thanks to their dedication and heightened sense of justice. There is no need to expect continuation, because the book has fulfilled its main mission.

Hope

The work makes us hope for a change for the better, no matter how terrible and tragic our "today" is. Katherine Stockett in The Help (reviews point to this) touched on many topics thatevoke a keen sense of sympathy, but at the same time skillfully diluted them with warm and kind moments. Many write about how it should be, say readers in their reviews of The Help, but no one has yet written how to achieve this perfection. Katherine did it. She literally provided readers with instructions on what to do in order to achieve their goals. Despite the open ending, the reader is left with a pleasant feeling of hope that all will be well.

Did you understand the essence of what you read?

What is the main idea of the piece? According to the writer herself:

There's a moment in "The Help" that I'm genuinely proud of: "Isn't that the main idea of our book? To make women understand that we're just two people. There's not much that separates us. There's not that much difference between us. Not nearly as big as I thought."

It was the desire to show that white and colored people are really no different from each other that inspired Kathryn Stockett to write the novel.

Everyone knows that slavery was abolished in 1865, rights were granted to black people, but many of them remained unrecognized. The tragedy of slavery ended then, but it took another 150 years to eliminate its consequences.

So, in 1940, only 5% of blacks had the right to vote in elections. Until 1967, interracial marriages were strictly prohibited, and living under the same roof with an African American caused an immediate police response under the sauce "disturbance of the peace."The outstanding scientist C. Drew, who discovered blood plasma, died just on the threshold of the hospital after a car accident - the hospital refused to admit a "black" to the "white" hospital.

It was not for nothing that Nazi ideologue Alfred Rosenberg used American racial laws as an example for Germany, because "there is an impenetrable barrier between whites and non-whites".

However, few people were worried about the problems of black doctors. It was such a rarity. Only 5% of blacks in 1940 graduated from high school. Most of the blacks in the south acted as tenants. The landowner supplied them with land, seeds, tools and livestock, for which the tenants had to give a large part of the crop. The work was carried out under the escort of overseers. Often blacks working on the ground were shackled. They could only buy groceries at the owner's shop.

Kathryn Stockett was born in 1969. And although significant progress in overcoming racism in the United States began in the 1960s, when significant political and socio-economic measures were taken as a result of the success of the civil rights movement, the echoes of racism were still heard all too well. Somewhere they fought for the rights and equality of blacks, but in small towns all these actions were very far away. But in such towns, the differences between the white population and the colored were too noticeable.

Ugliness lives inside. To be ugly is to be a nasty, evil person.

However, not only interracial issues is the idea of the novel. "The Help" by Katherine Stockettreminds us that people have no right to treat someone with disdain. Control and decide the fate of others. Why, for the sake of what do they complicate their lives with malice and hatred, meanness and deceit? After all, it is they, and not someone else, who will have to live with themselves all their lives. It was these thoughts that visited Katherine after she learned about the terrorist attack that occurred in September 2001. Someone cruel decided the fate of innocent people: some were killed, others were maimed. For what? Injustice, cruelty and arrogance - this is what each of us faces. But if we act the same, nothing will ever change. Change starts with ourselves, not with a neighbor or school friend.

The book also covers other issues - the problems of society, which are becoming more acute every year. Why does the crowd blindly follow the rules prescribed by someone (no one even remembers who), like a herd, while each person is a person with his own judgment? Ladies from high society, rich and spoiled, consider themselves queens in their little world and diligently copy each other. However, in reality, their lives are completely devoid of meaning and joy. The people who serve them are much livelier and better than them. However, money and position are everything. They consider dark-skinned servants to be no better than dirt.

You need to have great courage and willpower in order to try to change something at the cost of losses. This is a very difficult and thorny path, which is fraught with numerous consequences. Therefore, not everyone decides to follow it. After all, society, in fact, continues,as in the Middle Ages, to divide people according to faith, skin color and amount of money. Isn't this a worldwide tragedy for mankind?

Screening of the novel

In 2011, a film based on the story of Katherine Stockett was released. Starring Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard and Jessica Chastain.

The film grossed $169 million in the US. It should be noted that issues of racial discrimination always resonate in the hearts of modern American citizens.

Interesting facts about the film, the reader is likely to be interested:

1. Director and screenwriter Tate Taylor has been childhood friends with the author of the novel, Katherine Stockett, who grew up together in Jackson, Mississippi, where the book takes place. This indicates that The Help is largely autobiographical.
2. Octavia Spencer is friends with Stockett and Taylor. It was she who became the prototype of the sharp-tongued Minnie. Therefore, she was offered this role - and she coped with it brilliantly! It is noteworthy that before that, Octavia appeared only in episodic scenes of some films. And for the role of Minnie, she received an Oscar.
3. The soundtrack is The Living Proof by Mary Jane Blige. In an interview, she said that she "really appreciates the opportunity to reach out to so many women at the same time through this song and is glad to join this project."
4. The First Lady of the United States - Michelle Obama, after watching this film, decided to arrange its screening in the White House. Emma Stone and Octavia Spencer were invited to it.
5. The film was warmly received not only by the audience, but also by critics. They responded positively to the acting of the actresses. Emma Stone perfectly conveyed the character of her heroine. Jessica Chastain, a talented actress, looked somewhat unusual for the audience, but quite harmoniously, which was also noted by critics.

The film entered the top 250 on the KinoPoisk website. The film, based on Catherine Stockett's book The Help, received positive reviews. At the same time, many viewers argue that the picture is inferior to the book in liveliness and humor. It was filmed in the drama genre, so it found a greater response in women's hearts. The actors perfectly coped with their roles, their game is heartfelt and reliable. And even if you imagined them completely different while reading the book, the movie is definitely worth a watch.

Similar books to "The Help"

1. "Call the midwife" (Jennifer Wharf).
2. "The Nightingale" (Kristin Hanna).
3. "Mrs. Sinclair's Suitcase" (Louise W alters).
4. Big Little Lies (Liana Moriarty).
5. "The Zookeeper's Wife" (Diana Ackerman)

Of course, this is not the whole list of such works.

So, today we reviewed reviews of the book "The Help" by Katherine Stockett.