It is generally agreed upon that past experiences and circumstances play a significant role in shaping the decisions, attitudes, and values of individuals in the present. This holds true in both real life and literature, and the characters in the novel The Help by Kathryn Stockett are no exception. One character in particular who has to contend with and is considerably influenced by her past is Celia. Celia, unlike the other privileged white ladies of Jackson, grew up dirt-poor in a white-trash town in Southern Mississippi called Sugar Ditch. Not many specifics are mentioned in relation to her childhood there, but it can be inferred that it was quite a harsh environment. Poor, starving, and uneducated, Celia’s unconventional upbringing in Sugar
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Johnny and Celia are a rather unconventional couple, seeing as they come from completely different ends of the socioeconomic spectrum. Johnny is wealthy, charismatic, and generally respected in Jackson society. Tacky Celia seems like exactly the opposite type of girl that he would typically go for. Because Johnny dated Hilly, the queen of the Jackson socialites, the pairing seems even more odd. Despite their differences, it is clear that Johnny loves Celia very much and wants only the best for her. Celia loves him too, but is crippled with a crushing sense of inadequacy in comparison to the type of wife she believes that Johnny deserves. After all, Celia is far from the conventional housewife. She can’t cook or clean, or have children. In fact, that is the very reason that she wanted to keep Minny a secret from Johnny. She thought that if she pretended that she was the one who was cooking all of the fabulous dinners and keeping the house spotless that he would be proud of her and see that she was worthy of being his wife. As much as Johnny might reassure her that she’s good enough for him, Celia still feels like the white-trash girl who was lucky enough to snag a rich man like Johnny. This is why she values being a good housewife so highly- she believes that if she doesn't become the perfect upper-class lady, he might leave her for someone more like
Johnny and Celia are a rather unconventional couple, seeing as they come from completely different ends of the socioeconomic spectrum. Johnny is wealthy, charismatic, and generally respected in Jackson society. Tacky Celia seems like exactly the opposite type of girl that he would typically go for. Because Johnny dated Hilly, the queen of the Jackson socialites, the pairing seems even more odd. Despite their differences, it is clear that Johnny loves Celia very much and wants only the best for her. Celia loves him too, but is crippled with a crushing sense of inadequacy in comparison to the type of wife she believes that Johnny deserves. After all, Celia is far from the conventional housewife. She can’t cook or clean, or have children. In fact, that is the very reason that she wanted to keep Minny a secret from Johnny. She thought that if she pretended that she was the one who was cooking all of the fabulous dinners and keeping the house spotless that he would be proud of her and see that she was worthy of being his wife. As much as Johnny might reassure her that she’s good enough for him, Celia still feels like the white-trash girl who was lucky enough to snag a rich man like Johnny. This is why she values being a good housewife so highly- she believes that if she doesn't become the perfect upper-class lady, he might leave her for someone more like