The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The book which was set in Jackson, Mississippi in early 1962 is narrated from the viewpoints of three dissimilar women. Looking at the contemporary world today, it would be pivotal to assert that, the book was set against the backdrop of racial segregation in the American plantations and in particular South. By featuring the black house helps in telling the story of how the essence of racism dwarfed the black community. As Brooks noted in his book American Race Problem, racism was caste on the simple pillars of ironies, this is evidenced by the fact that, unlike in the contemporary society where racism is viewed differently 1.Stockett presents a scenario where the blackmails are highly subordinated yet they are trusted to care for the whites children. as one of the leading characters asserts I want to stop that moment from coming and it come in ever white childs life when they start to think that colored folks aint as good as whites.
Though the book qualifies as a good read, there are some historical in accuracies that are littered within its context, this can be established by the fact that, though the author had anchored her narration in regard to the scope of racism, however, when telling the story within her setting which happens to be in 1962, she erred by referring to shake n Bake, a product that came into the market only after 1964. One of many scenario of this historical inaccuracy is evidenced by the following quote Miss Celia puts a raw chicken thigh in, bumps the bag around. Like this Just like the Shake n Bake commercials on the tee-vee.
Arguably, Stockett can be said to have nurtured the aspects of racism, consider the fact that, as a white author, she has strikingly managed to elaborately strike a balance of his tone with the manner her narration unfolds, though she cannot be equated with Bell who in his work Permanence of Racism captures the raw aspects of racism, but is instrumental in providing precise and convincing facts. Examining the historical truths presented by Bell, one cannot fail to understand the reason why one of the leading black house help was instrumental in asserting that Only three things them ladies talk about they kids, they clothes, and they friends. I hear the word Kennedy, I know they aint discussing no politic. They talking about what Miss Jackie done wore on the tee-vee.
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1Brooks, R L. American Race Problem. (CaliforniaUC, 1990) 93.
2 Stockett, K. The Help (N.Y Amy Einhorn, 2009).55
3 Stockett, K. The Help (N.Y Amy Einhorn, 2009),425
4 Stockett, K. The Help (N.Y Amy Einhorn, 2009).139
Therefore, in essence the historical concept behind the novel is evident through out the book. This is evident by the manner, the three unique women have been presented and injected with life in order to act as the mirror by which the society can look at itself and learn from the past mistakes. Comparing this work with George Orwells classic novel, Animal Farm, it would be pivotal to point out that, as Orwell observed in his book about equity and equality, so is Stockett in his captivating but controversial novel The Help. Instrumentally, she has managed to profoundly engage the reader with some of her controversial observations, for instance she writes I used to believe in em (lines). I dont anymore. They in our heads. Lines between black and white aint there neither. Some folks just made those up, long time ago. And that go for the white trash and the so-ciety ladies too5.Reflecting on such an observation in relation to what George Orwell preached in his work, it would be profound to assert that, Stockett had drawn a parallel line between establishing a content touching on human rights as well as on the plight of women
Examining the books plot at large, it is instrumental to assert that the author paints a vivid picture of how the society treats the house helpers or maids. Consider the fact that in many families maids are the ones mandated with almost all house chores. By exploring the broad context of the novel the author has significantly explored the concept of racism in regard to Jackson town in Mississippi. Using such strong communication tools as symbolism and imagery it can be argued that the intended impact was delivered through an elaborate and humorous manner such as illustrated I always thought insanity would be a dark, bitter feeling, but it is drenching and delicious if you really roll around in it6.Historically, the author provides a precise background of how racial segregation as well as ethnic incompatibility created a society that had no conscience. Interestingly, this is also equally supported in the George Orwells Animal Farm where the slogans all animals are equal, but some are more equal reflected the abuse of human rights by those who think are more superior to the rest 7.
Delving into the background context of the American society, the author seems to have borrowed a cue from the vast plantations where the blacks were subjected to forced labor. It is instrumental to aver that the abuse of the blacks by the whites exposed the deeper hatred that the whites had on the blacks 8.
Hence, by employing the intricate act of balancing through the essence of back story it is evident that the characters acted as the representatives of the author in giving her account of how the women forged ahead despite their mistreatment in their respective areas of employment and social status. Therefore, by employing this literary tool, the accuracy of the plot theme as well as the presentation of the entire book cannot be questioned or challenged. Though in some quarters the author has been branded as a racist, it is plain to assume that she is one, comparing the manner by which she has navigated her tale through the eyes of the three clandestine women
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5 Stockett, K. The Help (N.Y Amy Einhorn, 2009),409
6 Stockett, K. The Help (N.Y Amy Einhorn, 2009),391
7 Berry, M F. Constitutional Racism in America.(Dallas Penguin, 1994) 85.
8 Sharpe, G The Help by K.Stockett. The Help by Kathryn Stockett. 23 Mar. 2010 EzineArticles.com. 17 May. 2010 HYPERLINK httpezinearticles.comThe-Help-by-Kathryn-Stockettid3984080 httpezinearticles.comThe-Help-by-Kathryn-Stockettid3984080.
Racism can be said to be the major theme of the book, however, satirically, the author have managed to incorporate other aspects highly linked to feminism and this waters down as act of situational irony. This is due to the fact that, she has indicated that despite their dissimilar social status the women integrated harmoniously and managed to effect change as well as build a new image for the world of feminists within the greater Mississippi 9 . For example, Skeeter was a well educated white woman from the eye of the author she is presented as the initiator of the reconciliation between the whites who felt that blacks were inferior or of less status due to the color of their skin. Therefore, may I assert that, her dreams as presented in the novel were in tandem with Martin Luther Kings dream of having a stable society where all men were treated equally despite their sex and race, social, economic and political preferences 10.
From historical perspective, though the author has not fully tackled the issues that influenced the broad aspects of racism with the Jackson town, it is evident that her background information provided a concise reflection of how the American behaved with the people they did not accept or value as equal. Novelist William Gilmore Simms, the author of the anti-Uncle Toms Cabin novel also comes into total agreement with Stockett in as far as the aspect of slavery and racism is concerned 11.
Using dramatic visualization as Simms, Stockett explores the in-depth roots of racism as is evidenced by the black maids 12. In essence this aided in granting this work its flesh and more injecting a new dimension with regards to the historical context 8. Therefore it would be instrumental to aver that though there are numeral anomalies within this book pertaining to the broader scope of slavery and racism, but it is prudence to accept that it exposes teaching profound truths about the manner the United States changed from a shameful and painful undercurrent of unrelenting racism to the anticipations and visions of Martin Luther King as well as Rosa Parks among other great Americans 13,14.
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