Summary: The Help By Kathryn Stockett

1.10 Reading Response
The Help (Novel) – Kathryn Stockett
In the novel The Help, the author Kathryn Stockett examines the idea of one’s pursuit of happiness, and what makes one truly happy. Stockett depicts this idea through three separate aspects in the novel. Firstly, she shows the huge prospects of happiness through the relationship between Skeeter, Minny and Aibileen. Additionally, Stockett portrays the pursuit of happiness of Miss Celia, and thus uncovers what qualities create true happiness. Finally, the author emphasises aspects of happiness through the contrast in the ‘two societies’ we see in Jackson, Mississippi.
Stockett throughout the text, consistently shows the limitless levels of one’s happiness through friendships, as
a result of the depiction of the relationship between Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny. Both Aibileen and Minny are both black maids, while Skeeter , at the beginning of the book, is depicted as an upper class white woman. As the book progresses, Skeeter is outlawed because of her relationship with Minny and Aibileen. This shows that Miss Skeeter chose to continue her friendship with these black maids as opposed to being ‘compliant’ with upper class woman. This is because, the friendship which grew and the happiness of these people broke down the barriers of racism and segregation, which were major issues in the novel. The happiness and self-fulfilment in this relationship can be seen through Aibileen’s thoughts; “God says we need to love our enemies. It hard to do. But it can start by telling the truth. No one had ever asked me what it feel like to be me. Once I told the truth about that, I felt free. And I got to thinking about all the people I know. And the things I seen and done”. This example shows, for Aibileen, that her friendships, even with her sworn enemies in society, are the ones that make her truly happy, and that real friendship is not necessarily what society’s image says it is. This idea can be extended to many other areas of society, where the idealistic image of what we ‘should do’ is not necessarily what makes us truly happy. Therefore, from this relationship, I have learnt that what the ideal societal image says is good, is certainly not always what gives you self-fulfilment and true happiness, and that especially through friendship major barriers that exist in our world can be broken down to happiness and fun.
The second aspect which Stockett explores to show the qualities of what makes one truly happy is the character of Miss Celia. When she is first introduced, Miss Celia has major aspirations to be part of the upper class, and at this stage finds herself failing at this aspiration, but also failing to have fun and be happy with what she has. She looks to her maid Minny, for inspiration, which is when the development of Miss Celia begins until by the end, she has found all the good things in her life. “Miss Celia stares down into the pot like she's looking for her future. "Are you happy, Minny?"
"Why you ask me funny questions like that?"
"But are you?"
"Course I's happy. You happy too. Big house, big yard, husband looking after you." I frown at Miss Celia and I make sure she can see it. Because ain't that white people for you, wondering if they are happy ENOUGH.”
Through the development of Miss Celia, and this example we can see that Miss Celia learns through Minny to appreciate what she has in her life, just as Minny does. This means that Miss Celia now is looking through the eyes of an aspiring upper class woman, but someone who sees the good in the world, which depicts the idea of what truly makes someone happy, merely their outlook on the world. Through the change observed in Miss Celia, I have learned that in order to achieve utmost happiness, simple things such as your outlook on your life and others, is one of the factors that has the most effect.
The final aspect which Stockett explores is the contrast of the ‘two societies’ created in Jackson, Mississippi.
In the town of Jackson is split into two separate societies, the coloured and the white. Throughout the book, Stockett assesses the contrasting mind-sets within each of these societies. Within the coloured society, the kindness and willingness to give is very evident: ‘If you can love your enemy, you already have victory.’ While the system of the white society is very evident through Aibileens comments: “They go doing things behind one another’s backs. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.” This contrast in the depiction of the two realms of society help the reader understand the idea of self-fulfilment and happiness, as it shows the differing extremes of human nature. On one hand, we propel ourselves to the top at the expense of others and often in the end your own happiness, and on the other we achieve as one and everyone is content with their role in society. From this idea and the contrasting approaches to society as a whole, I have learned that the first step to being contented with your life is to be glad about the people who surround you. If you do not appreciate these people, and you take them for granted, then not only will you put your friendships in jeopardy, but you are unlikely to be truly happy with where you are in life and where you want to
go.
Through Kathryn Stockett’s novel, The Help, we can learn many things about ourselves as a result of the depiction of the idea of one’s pursuit of happiness. Firstly the friendship of Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny shows how happiness can break down any barrier between people that exist in our world, as the barrier of racism and segregation was greater than many that exist today. Also, the character of Miss Celia displays that simple things such as our outlook on the world and people can greatly positively effect us as people and finally, by the contrast of the two societies in the novel, one can see that if we accept and relish the people around us and our own position in life, we can be truly self-fulfilled and happy.