Discrimination Exposed In Kathryn Stockett's The Help

“Let’s stop believing that our differences make us superior or inferior to one another”- Don Miguel Ruiz. The novel “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett is a controversial and heart wrenching story. It depicts the cruel brutality and inequality that many faced during the 1960’s. Stockett teaches the readers about how discrimination between races was inevitable and planted in everyday life through Aibileen’s life story, Hilly’s sense of superiority, and Celia’s innocent presence.
Aibileen, the main protagonist of The Help, drives this book to such great lengths. Stockett uses the characterization of her to speak truth to readers while explaining her life story. Aibileen’s son, Treelore, is maliciously thrown onto a truck after being killed as if he were trash. After his death, a bitter seed is planted inside of her and she becomes fed up with how

Celia is a newcomer who desperately wants to be apart of Hilly’s club, but finds herself unwelcomed. Using her character allowed Stockett to show viewers that discrimination was not only between opposite races. During this time period difference was alienated and shunned. Those whom were unlike others or had different opinions were treated unfairly. Unlike the other Caucasian women in town, Celia wasn’t born in high society. She is unaccustomed to maids and doesn’t have a clue about the real issues that are occurring around her. “See, I think if God had intended for white people and colored people to be this close together for so much of the day, he would’ve made us color-blind. And while Miss Celia’s grinning and “good morning” and “glad to see”-ing me, I’m wondering, how did she get this far in life without knowing where the lines are drawn?” (Stockett) To have people in the world who were not submissive to the idiotics of society was a blessing. It gave African Americans hope that maybe one day everyone could get along without seeing differences or