Stereotypes And Symbolism In The Help By Kathryn Stockett

The Help by Kathryn Stockett takes place in Jackson, Mississippi in 1962. A period of time where people believed in the segregation of blacks from whites, and the superiority of whites. The novel features strong black women sharing their stories about their lives as maids and what it is like working for white families. Aibileen and Minny, two coloured maids work alongside Skeeter Phelan, a white southern woman, to create a book depicting the truth. Throughout their stories we come to understand the relationship maids had with their employers and families, as well as the mistreatment they received. Miss Skeeter, Aibileen, and Minny although living in the same society do not experience the same type of life. White people’s minds are polluted with the idea that blacks aren’t equal to whites from a young age: “‘I want to yell so loud that Baby Girl, [Mae Mobley] can hear me that dirty ain 't a color, disease ain 't the negro side of town. I want to stop that moment from coming – and it come in every white child 's life – when they start to think that colored folks are not as good as whites,’” (112). Kathryn Stockett uses symbolism and irony to demonstrate that living in a segregated society with strict black and white laws creates false stereotypes about people that are dangerous to challenge.
Stockett uses the toilet, …show more content…
The toilet and poo pie are two symbols that make the reader understand what the characters are dealing with regarding race. The toilet symbolizes the “dirty” image whites have for coloured people and how they have to abide to what the whites say. The poo pie symbolizes power and closure towards the race stereotypes. Stockett uses irony to make the reader think and interpret what coloured maids have to go through. These two symbols are used to demonstrate how blacks are considered lesser than whites and have to follow the “white rules”