Identity In Kathryn Stockett's The Help

The Help, a novel by Kathryn Stockett, tells the story of a young woman named Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan. She convinces African American maids to help her write a book of interviews that will ultimately change the way Southerners see their maids forever. This book weaves a beautiful tale with many literary traits, but the one that prevails above all is identity. Identity defines who someone is, and can be reinforced and shaped through their actions, thoughts, and even their dreams. Aibileen and Celia convey the claim that a person’s past experiences can alter their present identity. Celia shows the idea that a person’s past experiences can affect their present identity. For example, there was once a naked white homeless man who came out of the

For example, when Treelore, her only son who was intelligent, dies from a tractor trailer, she grows dark and suicidal. While reflecting on that day, she says, “A bitter seed was planted inside a me” (3). This shows that because of Treelore’s death, she becomes less forgiving. She starts to not tolerate white people as much as she did before. Aibileen ultimately becomes more standoffish. Also, another example comes later on in the story. When Skeeter is interviewing Aibileen for the first time, Aibileen becomes scared about someone finding out. Skeeter then sees Aibileen, “...take a napkin and dabs her forehead. She starts to speak but stops herself... and walks quickly down the hall…When she comes back she holds a towel to her front, the way I’ve seen Mother do after she vomits” (170). Aibileen has always been fearful of white people, as they have more power than a black person. It was drilled in, almost to the point of being an instinct, by their family to fear and obey white people. This makes her uncomfortable around Skeeter, so much so that she vomits. This causes her identity to be fearful and doubtful. Obviously, Aibileen shows that the past can change a person’s present