The Help – Week 4

Life in the South is never boring, but life in Jackson Mississippi is raging! The ladies of the League have been planning the benefit, which is the highlight of the party season. Poor Celia Foote has not been able to break into the league, but she is determined to NOT miss the party! Minny has tried to warn her against going, but once Miss Celia gets something into her head, nothing will deter her.  All Minny can do is roll her eyes and let her go, however, Minny is determined to be there to watch what happens. She would not miss it for anything!

Miss Skeeter has completed her book and mailed it off to New York, and the waiting game begins. But the publishing of the book takes the town by storm!! After someone casually mentions that the book COULD be set in Jackson, everyone runs out to buy their copy, and see what it contains. Miss Hilly is convinced it is set in Jackson, and starts telling ladies in town to let their help go, at least until she reads the last chapter. Miss Skeeter though, she has her own troubles. Her boyfriend proposes, and takes the ring back the same night. After Skeeter tells him what she has been working on, he does not feel that he can share her views or convictions.

Aibileen knows that its just a matter of time before her own employer finds out, but its not Miss Elizabeth that wants to fire her. It is Miss Hilly, and poor Elizabeth can not go against Hilly Holbrook. She knows that she took a chance helping on the book, but sometimes you have to just flout convention and throw caution to the wind!

This week we are reading chapters 24-34

Questions:

1. Do you believe that Minny was justified in her distrust of white people?

2. What did you think about Minny’s pie for Miss Hilly? Would you have gone as far as Minny did for revenge?

3. Did it bother you that Skeeter is willing to overlook so many of Stuart’s faults so that she can get married, and that it’s not until he literally gets up and walks away that the engagement falls apart?

4. Aibileen has worked with  Mae Mobley to let her know that she is beautiful and smart, something that her own mother should be doing. Do you think children are impressionable and remember the life lessons that we try and teach them?