A Character Analysis Of Eugenia Phelan In 'The Help'

Expository Essay 1
(Skeeter)

In the novel “The Help”, the racial diversity is the main controversy. One character in this story decides to stick up for what she believes in. The bold actions she takes brings society one-step closer to racial equality. This character is Eugenia Phelan, often referred to as “Skeeter”. This 23-year-old white woman from Jackson, Mississippi devotes herself to a cause greater than herself. Her dedication she displays towards helping the maids in the story speaks volumes towards her character. Skeeter develops a great relationship with one of the main characters in the story, Aibiline.
Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan is a hard-working individual, determined to publish a story revealing the turmoil of African American maids in her town, despite the negativity shown towards these women. In some cases, Skeeter seems sincerely concerned about the treatment of the maids in her town.
However, Skeeter 's interest in the lives of the maids can be attributed to Skeeter 's aspiration to become an editor for Harper & Row Publishers and finally get away from her mother and her home and be an independent woman as well as finding the truth about her former maid Constantine. After her return from college, Skeeter finds her maid, Constantine, had moved away to "live with her people up in Chicago", said her mother (80). Constantine was the primary care taker of Skeeter as she was growing up. Constantine instilled a sense of confidence and self-acceptance in Skeeter that her mother did not help her with. Constantine was like a mother to Skeeter, and with her disappearance, Skeeter feels hopeless in the face of "these people," that surround her (81). Skeeter pushes on with the determined character she is. This has much do to with the inspiration from her former maid, Constantine. This genuine personality allows Skeeter to get along with most people and sympathize even when society does not. Skeeter is friends with other high-society ladies from Jackson, Mississippi.
As she has known some of the ladies for many years, she becomes less and less connected with these ladies as the story progresses. One of the relationships formed in the book is the rare yet great relationship between Skeeter and Aibileen. It was not common for a black lady and a white lady to talk to each other let alone become friends during this time, especially in Mississippi. This was because black people were discriminated against before the civil rights movement. The fact that any inter-racial relationships were not accepted by society left Skeeter and Aibileen no choice but to go about being friends in secret to make sure they kept themselves safe. Because of how society viewed the inner–racial relationships, it was difficult for these two women at the beginning of their relationship, as neither of them really knew how to approach and speak to one another. “I ain’t never has no white women in my house before” said Aibileen to Skeeter when she first comes over to her house
(173). Skeeter demonstrates empathy towards the African American maids when she discovers the fate of Skeeter 's friend Hilly Holbrook 's former maid, Yule May (294). The injustice faced by Yule May frustrates Skeeter, but mostly the actions of Hilly cause Skeeter 's anger. Finally, Skeeter proves herself to be trustworthy enough to listen and write the stories of the African American maids (297). Skeeter 's narration expresses that her "relief is bitter" because "it took Yule May 's internment to bring us to this" (297). Just as things seem to be on the positive side, Stuart, Skeeter’s boyfriend, causes a decline in Skeeter 's optimism when he ends his relationship with Skeeter (322). The event takes its toll on Skeeter, pushing her to get through the risky task of writing the inputs of the women that come to Skeeter (325). The heartbreak results in Skeeter 's open lack of respect towards the actions of Hilly. Hilly tells Skeeter to print in the Jackson Junior League 's publication the "Home Help Sanitation Initiative," speaking on the use of separate bathrooms for the African American maids. Skeeter did not hesitate to discard the idea when Hilly brought it to Skeeter’s attention. This hurts the relationship between Hilly and Skeeter. The strongest relationship Skeeter creates throughout the novel is the relationship between her and Aibileen.
Aibileen and Skeeter start off as two women with a similar motive writing a book but as the story goes on and they begin spending more and more time together. Aibiline and Skeeter develop a great friendship. “I am tempted to bring up the word friend but I’m not that naive, I know we are not friends”, said Skeeter (268). Skeeter and Aibileen know that they can confide in each other for support, encouragement and reassurance in regard to the fact that what they are doing is important and can potentially change Jackson, Mississippi for the better. Even knowing the risks of getting caught, Skeeter still writes the letters because it is the thing to do. She is willing to sacrifice her social standing, possibly her job, and persecution. Skeeter transformed into a productive activist.
Skeeter’s values remain constant throughout the story to point of standing up for what she believes in. Helping people seems to be always a priority to Skeeter and she is a character that does not necessarily fit the stereotypical guidelines for a female of this time in age. She does not see being the stereotypical woman of this time as a priority. She is more of a plain woman. She wears no makeup and does not do her hair very much at all. Skeeter is bound and determined to help the black community of Jackson, Mississippi. When her friends do not support what she is doing in helping the maids, she continues to do what she feels is right. She puts her own life in danger in order to support a greater cause and achieve her dream of getting a job with Harper & Row Publishers. Throughout the story, Skeeter is faced with many trails. She begins to find motivation to help stop the unfair treatment of the blacks. By helping the mood and the awareness and unfair treatment, Skeeter is able to release apart of tension in her that pulls her to act on what she believes is right. As she develops in the story, she is also able to help Aibiline feel like she did something positive and productive. The same is for Minny, as both women, along with many others, are fed up with how they are mistreated.

Work Cited Page
Stockett, Kathryn. The Help. New York: Penguin, 2009. Print