“Wasn’t that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I’d thought.”
What differentiates one human being from another; that is apart from the obvious biological variations? And furthermore, who lays down the societal norms that call for absolute conformity? The world we live in has been moulded into its current form by the firm hands of hierarchy whose foundation lies on sheer intolerance, blinding us to the one truth that actually matters – there is no difference.
‘The Help’ is an attempt by Kathryn Stockett to re-establish this maxim. Set in Jackson, Mississippi, during the early 1960s when the American Civil Rights Movement was in full swing, it recounts the fictional experiences of the African American help working in white households. The constant shifting of the narrative between the perspectives of its three main characters – Skeeter, the aspiring white journalist, and Abileen and Minny, the help, allows the reader to form a wholesome picture of not just their lives, but their emotions, the social scenario and the existent hypocrisy thinly veiled by the attitude – “Separate but equal”.
The drawback of “The Help” lies with the fact that it is Stockett herself who pushes the novel into a quandary. Tackling an issue as deep-rooted as racism requires an approach that drives the point home. Stockett however, fails to do so. The novel appears to be satisfied just glossing over the issue and furthermore goes to great lengths to show the magnanimity of the whites. This is particularly evident through Skeeter who comes off as a white saviour necessary to help the black voices be heard…defeating the entire purpose of the novel.
“The Help” may not be a representative novel of the African American voice, but it definitely is a step in the right direction. It succeeds in questioning the differences not just limited to African Americans, but minorities all around the world.