What Are The Similarities Between The Help And To Kill A Mockingbird

The novel To Kill a Mockingbird, and the film The Help have several similarities within the context, and a common theme arises of expectation of segregation and class prejudice to the treatment of their black workers. Both characters: Aunt Alexandra from To Kill a Mockingbird and Charlotte Phelan from The Help, experience the pressure of living in a racist society. Aunt Alexandra’s relationship with Calpurnia, her maid, is one example of how she deals with the segregation of black people. In the novel, when Aunt Alexandra is first introduced to Cal she says “Put my bag in the front bedroom, Calpurnia” (Lee 169). This demonstrates how Aunt Alexandra feels towards black people considering she confronted Cal with a demand rather than a greeting.

Aunt Alexandra’s relationship with Cal is also another example of how she supports segregation. In the text, Scout (Atticus’ daughter) finds out that Aunt Alexandra disapproved of him on the trail of defending a black man from her cousin Francis, “[Aunt Alexandra said that Atticus] turned out a nigger-lover and we'll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb agin. He's ruinin' the family, that's what he's doin'" (Lee 110). This demonstrates how ashamed she is that her brother is defending a black man and that she is scared of what other people will think. One more example that Aunt Alexandra supports segregation is that she is very concerned about the children and Cal’s relationship. In the book, Scout asks Atticus is she can go to Cal’s house for the day but Alexandra replies with “you may not” and explains that it would not be good for Scout to be in that part of the neighbourhood. Similar types of scenes and themes also arise in the movie The Help, with the character Charlotte Phelan. The movie takes place in the time of segregation and like Aunt Alexandra, Charlotte also has a relationship with a black maid named