Exploring the Conflicting Themes in Kathryn Stockett's The Help

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of the conflicting themes present in Kathryn Stockett's novel, The Help. The author explores the central theme of love, contrasting it with the pervasive theme of hate, and examines how these themes are intricately woven with issues of social class, race, and violence. The essay highlights the racial categorization of the upper and lower classes, depicting the distinct relationships between white and black people in the contemporary society. It also explores the actions of the characters like Skeeter, Aibileen, and Minny, who challenge societal expectations. The essay examines the consequences of defying social norms and the portrayal of violence within the context of the novel. It concludes by emphasizing the allegorical nature of the novel and its reflection on the struggles of the black community. The essay uses supporting sources to enhance the analysis of the themes presented in the novel.

Running head: CONFLICTING THEMES OF THE HELP
CONFLICTING THEMES OF THE HELP
Name of the University
Name of the Student
Author Note

1CONFLICTING THEMES OF THE HELP
The theme a literary study entails the central topic of the text that the narrator treats
for narrating his story. In other way, the theme of the contemporary literary works presents
the underneath meaning of the work signifying the central idea to the readers1. A story can
have several different themes connected with the plot. For example, the central theme of the
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is the theme of love. The entire story reflects the dominance
of love between Romeo and Juliet and focuses on the different incidents and conflicts around
the central theme. Another example of the love theme paramount throughout the storey is
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. The narrator in the story portrays the theme of love underlying
the theme of the revenge. Forbidden love between Edward and Bella is the central theme of
the novel, which the narrator has portrayed significantly throughout the story. Similarly, one
of the central themes of the novel The Help is again love, which is contrasted by the theme of
bitter hate. The novel does not reflect the love theme as romantic, but the contrast and the
counteraction between the suppressed love and dominant hate.
The theme of love in The Help is not purely similar to the theme of Romeo and Juliet
and Twilight. Though the central theme of these three books are same, but the depiction and
the treatment of the theme is different from each other. Apart from the theme of love, there
are other conflicting themes of social class, race, violence and hate. The narrator has aptly
depicted the social conditions of the contemporary society. The racial categorization of the
upper and the lower class has been done by the skin color2. The white people of the society
belonged to the upper class, whereas the black people are meant to be the maids and servants
for the white people. The novel depicts the distinct relationship of the black and white people
through various aspects of emotions.
1 Carroll, Joseph, et al. Graphing Jane Austen: The evolutionary basis of literary meaning. Springer, 2012.
2 2017, http://www.penguin.com/static/pdf/teachersguides/the_helpTG.pdf.

2CONFLICTING THEMES OF THE HELP
The two distinct class of the contemporary society are meant to behave in certain
ways in order to accomplish the social expectations. The people belonging to the upper class
are the ruling class who dictate the lives of the lower class black people. Elizabeth and Hilly
is the perfect representative of the upper class who is driven by the racist culture3. Whereas,
Skeeter, one of the central character of the novel does not fit in the upper class as she feels
pity and love for the lower class people serving white people. In fact, Skeeter, later in the
novel publishes a book, which tells the story of the lower class black people. Aibileen and
Minny are remaining central characters who help Skeeter writing the book. However, the
book Skeeter publishes at the end of the novel is named The Help. The narrator has
allegorically kept the name of her novel same as the book published in the story by the
central character of the novel.
The effort and the initiative to write a book on the lives of the maids in the
contemporary society makes Skeeter to not follow the social expectation according to the
racial division of the society. She is however not afraid to lose her social dignity, since she
knows she is following the right path. The novel also tells the painful consequences of
Skeeter for not performing her traditional role. The narrator also has presented the theme of
violence with the by presenting the incidents that diffuse the loving speech and the domestic
violence on the black people4.
There are several themes presented in the novel. The novel and the book published in
the novel by the central characters create a sense of camouflage in the novel, though both
signify the helpless condition of the black people. The novel however, portrays the theme of
love under the vague prevalence of hate.
3 "The Help Themes From Litcharts | The Creators Of Sparknotes." Litcharts, 2017,
http://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-help/themes.
4 Kelm, Rebecca. “Stockett, Kathryn. The Help.(Brief Article)(Book Review).” Library Journal, vol. 134, no. 1,
2009, p. 83.

3CONFLICTING THEMES OF THE HELP

4CONFLICTING THEMES OF THE HELP
Reference:
Kelm, Rebecca. “Stockett, Kathryn. The Help.(Brief Article)(Book Review).” Library
Journal, vol. 134, no. 1, 2009, p. 83.
2017, http://www.penguin.com/static/pdf/teachersguides/the_helpTG.pdf.
Carroll, Joseph, et al. Graphing Jane Austen: The evolutionary basis of literary meaning.
Springer, 2012.
"The Help Themes From Litcharts | The Creators Of Sparknotes." Litcharts, 2017,
http://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-help/themes.