Reading Response #2 - The Help by Kathryn Stockett

July 12, 2011

Pages 36 - 62

Chapters 3 - 4

During these Chapters, things are being seen from Minny's point of view. She has received a new job from Miss Celia, a woman new to the upper class level of society. This job is different for Minny though because unlike previous jobs, Miss Celia doesn't boss Minny around and she wants to learn from her. I see Miss Celia being to Minny as Mae Mobley is to Aibileen, even though there is about 20 years difference between the two. Miss Celia and Mae Mobley's innocence and naivety, I think, are what allow them to see past the color and society's title of "the help" and let them see Minny and Aibileen as people no better than themselves.

So that means society has hardened people like Miss Hilly and Mrs. Leefolt to treat maids as if they are below them. But what does that mean about Miss Skeeter? She has been raised in the upper class with maids, and servants. Why doesn't she see them as nothing more than people that are supposed to do work for you? I think it goes back to her missing maid, Constantine. Hopefully that will be revealed later in the book.

One last thing I'm am noticing is the diction used in the book. Aibileen and Minny use words such as "law" for Lord, "doe-nob" for doorknob, and "tee-vee" for tv. Aibileen and Minny both dropped out of school when they were around 13 or 14. I think the diction used shows both the dialect of the area, and their lack of education. It helps to make the words written feel more real and I think it really contributes to setting the tone and time period of the book.