Character Analysis Of 'Aibileen In Hilly's'

Lit. Circle 2

Does Skeeter’s lie to Mrs. Stein about Aibileen being ready and willing to tell her story reflect a certain arrogance or overconfidence in her ability to make Aibileen talk? (pgs.106-107)

Yes. Skeeter doesn 't seem to understand just how dangerous participating in the book would be for Aibileen, leading her to believe that it will simply be a matter of some simple persuasion to get Aibileen to agree with her. She may understand objectively that challenging such deeply ingrained racial norms is dangerous from what she hears on the news or even from the warnings of people around her like Mrs. Stein or Aibileen herself, but because she is white and therefore privileged, she can’t fully comprehend how big of a sacrifice she is asking

However, when she suddenly changes her mind and agrees, her answer to Skeeter as to why she did it is that it was Hilly. This is interesting, because she doesn 't ever really elaborate on her answer to Skeeter. However, looking back at her recent interactions with Hilly an increasing reluctance to comply with her degrading demands and remarks can be seen. In particular, on page 111 when Hilly is pestering Aibileen about her new bathroom. “ ‘Aibileen’ Hilly continued, ‘how do you like your new bathroom out there? It’s nice to have a place of your own, now isn’t it?’ Aibileen stared at the crack in the dining table. ‘Yes ma 'am.’ ‘You know, Mr. Holbrook arranged for that bathroom, Aibileen. Sent the boys over and the equipment too.’ Hilly smiled. Aibileen just stood there and I wished I wasn’t in the room. Please, I thought, please don’t say thank you. ‘Yes ma 'am.’ Aibileen opened a drawer and reached inside, but Hilly kept looking at her. It was so obvious what she wanted. Hilly cleared her throat and finally Aibileen lowered her head. ‘Thank you ma 'am.’ she whispered.” This blatant and public harassment by Hilly is humiliating for Aibileen. She is being forced to thank someone who has made her life incredibly difficult and routinely bashes her and her entire race for a bathroom that was built solely so that Aibileen wouldn’t spread her “diseases” to the other white people in

What significance does the word “truth” hold in the minds of Aibileen and Minny? (pgs.128-129)

The concept of truth is a recurring theme throughout the book. In a society where everyone is thinking the same things but no one is brave enough to say anything, the idea of finally speaking out about the blatantly racist injustices all black people in the south are forced to suffer seems simultaneously both terrifying and appealing. They both know that actively defying the status quo would be incredibly dangerous for both of them, but they are also incredibly fed up, and the idea of finally being able to speak their minds is inexplicably