Thehelp

Joelma Uckerman
Mr. Perry Daughtry Traditions of Brenau
7 October 2011

The book “The Help,” by Kathryn Stockett is about the relationship between white and black people during the 1960’s in Jackson, Mississippi. The plot of this work mainly focuses on the lives of the black maids and the white families for whom they worked. The audience is more sympathetic to Mrs. Hilly Holbrook, the antagonist, in Tate Taylor’s cinematographic version she does not act obviously cruel. In contrast with that personality, in Stockett’s version Hilly does not intend to cover her rudeness and disrespectful ideas with a pleasant figure. In chapter 1, pages eight to ten, Hilly disrespects Aibileen commenting bathrooms should be set segregated in order to prevent the spread of African American diseases. Yet, between the first 50 minutes of the movie, Hilly uses a lower tone of voice and non pejorative words when she talks about passing the bill on keeping the bathrooms separate. Although treated in different manners, both the book and the movie expose prejudice against unknown. In Stockett’s version, Hilly Holbrook is depicted as obviously unpleasant and does not try to hide rudeness. In the scene where she suggests white patrons should have separate bathrooms from their colored help, it is openly mean and disrespectful. While Mrs. Leefolt’s maid is working in the kitchen she is able to clearly listen to Mrs. Holbrook’s concerns of having disease carriers using the same toilets as their bosses. Her certainty shows that she does not intend to lessen the blow of the offensive statement. Hilly gives support to her demand assuring it would provide security and offer people safety from illnesses. Her disregard for Abileen’s feelings when she says in chapter 34, page 503, that because Abileen had spilled a beverage in her clothes that black people cannot even be taught to be clean. On the other hand, Tate’s version portrays Hilly’s behavior in a way that lessens the