Journal Three

Elements of Fiction Chart
Element of Fiction or Journalism (for example: character, setting, dialogue, 5 Ws):  Setting: Run-down black neighbourhood with the juxtaposition of Skeeter’s Cadillac

Where and how does it occur? Give examples. : This occurs in the first few chapters where Skeeter drives to Aibileen’s home to do the interviews for the book she wishes to write from the perspective of the help.  For the first few interview sessions she has, she drives in her family’s Cadillac, but after some time, Aibileen tells her that she is not to do so anymore so as to draw as little attention to herself as possible when she enters their part of town.

How does it help create/promote the main idea(s) or theme(s) of the book?: This helps promote the some of the main ideas and themes of the book because even just the juxtaposition of the shiny, expensive car in the run down, shack-like neighbourhood shows the huge difference between the ways of life of the white, privileged families, and the beat up, broken down homes of the black families that live in those neighbourhoods.  However it also demonstrates the fear that is inside every one of the maids’ hearts that speaks to Skeeter about their stories.  The fear that they could be found out and what that would mean for themselves and their families, and all the preventative steps they take to be extremely cautious and make sure that it doesn’t happen.   

 

Element of Fiction or Journalism (for example: character, setting, dialogue, 5 Ws): Point of View: Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan 

Where and how does it occur? Give examples.: “’These is white rules.  I don’t know which ones you followin’ and which ones you ain’t.’

We look at each other for a second.

‘I’m tired of rules.’”

“Hilly raises her voice about three octaves when she talks to colored people.  Elizabeth smiles like she’s talking to a child, although certainly not her own.  I am starting to notice things.”
How does it help create/promote the main idea(s) or theme(s) of the book?: Skeeter’s point of view throughout the novel demonstrates that there are such distinct social rules and lines and boundaries set in place by society to dictate what can and cannot go on between a black person and a white person.  The fact that Skeeter is taking the initiative to write the book does not mean it’s an easy feat.  All of the maids are skeptical because of everything they have learned from society and Skeeter must earn their trust in the fact that he heart is in the right place.   Also as a character, Skeeter develops in her own belief systems and point of view as she learns of the true story from the maids.  Her point of view also shows the social lines that exist not only between the black and white communities, but also within the society of the white ladies and socialites among the town.  Skeeter is already an outcast because she is not married with a family, and she went to university for writing and has a job as a journalist, as opposed to staying home and being a housewife.  Because of these facts she begins the novel already not fully relatable to the other women and slightly on the outs, however as she as a character develops her ways of thinking towards the treatment of the black maids and begins to grow disdain and notice the poor ways in which her friends treat them, she begins to not be so silent among her friend groups.  This depicts again the social rules within the white society itself.  As Skeeter speaks out and begins to make her views and opinions vocal and known, the society and Junior League shun her and grow an bitter and cold nature towards her, showing that it is expected of the white ladies to speak and behave a certain way based on social rules in place.


Element of Fiction or Journalism (for example: character, setting, dialogue, 5 Ws): Character: Mrs. Celia Foote

Where and how does it occur? Give examples.: The majority of Minny’s chapters take place dealing with and working in the home of Mrs. Celia Foote.  Celia as a character is not from Jackson Mississippi but in fact from much farther south.  Because of this, she is not aware or used to the ways of society in the new town she has moved to.  She does not understand the boundaries in between a white women and her black maid and therefore crosses many of the lines when dealing with Minny working in her household.  For example, the first day Minny works in her home, she does not think it makes sense for Minny to eat outside by herself and so tells her to come in and eat with her in the kitchen. 

 How does it help create/promote the main idea(s) or theme(s) of the book?: This character helps immensely demonstrate a major theme of the novel, being social rules and what is socially acceptable.  Because she is not from Jackson Mississippi and has not grown up and lived there for very long, she does not follow or live by any of the social rules that have been set in place for years by the white society of Jackson, Mississippi.  By having a character who behaves a way completely different from all the other society ladies of the town, it demonstrates how the lines and boundaries are not in fact put in by God, as many of the town believe, and are in fact set in place by belief systems and can in fact be broken and changed. 

 Element of Fiction or Journalism (for example: character, setting, dialogue, 5 Ws): Plot: Aibileen potty training Mae Mobley

Where and how does it occur? Give examples.: The struggles Aibileen faces in trying to potty train Mae Mobley is that Mae Mobley refuses to try herself on the toilet, unless Aibileen shows her first.  Aibileen is used to teaching young children how to use the toilet because she’s helped raise 17 other children before the Leefolt family.  However, she has never faced the issue of not being able to use the washroom inside the white home.  Because of Hilly Holbrook’s Home Help Sanitation Initiative, the Leefolt family had recently had a separate toilet made for Aibileen in the garage.  As a result, Aibileen is conflicted as to how she should demonstrate to Mae Mobley.  Does she use the white washroom that Mae Mobley will use eventually, and run the risk of being caught by Elizabeth Leefolt? Or does she take Mae Mobley out to the garage and risk that she will learn to use the coloured toilet in her own home and eventually receive the repercussions from her mother.   Aibileen decides to show Mae Mobley on her own coloured toilet and hope to rush her inside so she may use her own, however Mae Mobley climbs right onto the coloured toilet and later does so again for her mother, for which she suffers greatly.

How does it help create/promote the main idea(s) or theme(s) of the book?: This sub plot demonstrates exceptionally the struggles that are faced by the black maids with regards to social rules and racial segregation.  This aspect of the book, again, shows a strong concept of the book being the discovery and exploration of the social rules, boundaries, and lines and the idea that they are simply based on perception.  Mae Mobley, being a young girl who has not yet learnt and grown up with the rules of how she, as a white female, and Aibileen, as a black woman, can interact, she does not understand the boundaries that are set in place and therefore behaves as though there are none.  As the characters begin to notice and believe so, the knowledge that these so called “rules” are in fact only based on perception and in reality are only believed to be true by someone who has lived with and been taught these ways of living. And as Mae Mobley shows readers as well as the characters of the novel, it is not nature that instills these “morals”, but instead it is nurture.

This conflict also demonstrates a greatly huge theme of the novel being racism.  It is believed among many in Jackson that black people carry diseases and illness and can pass them on to white people simply by using the same toilets, which is why the initiative is put in place.  This is grossly wrong and there are many other uneducated assumptions and ideals based on race that appear in the novel.

Element of Fiction or Journalism (for example: character, setting, dialogue, 5 Ws): Conflict: Yule May’s son beaten and jailed for using white bathroom

Where and how does it occur? Give examples.: About two thirds through the book, one of Aibileen and Minny’s friend’s son accidentally uses a white washroom because there was no signage.  As a result, he was viciously beaten so much so that he became blinded, and on top of which, he was arrested and sent to jail. 

 How does it help create/promote the main idea(s) or theme(s) of the book?: This is an absolutely clear representation of a very strong throughout the novel which is that of racial segregation.  Simply because of the misunderstanding made by this black male, he faced incredible consequences and punishments.  Although this seems extreme, it is completely in the realm of realism and is exactly what might have happened during the time. 

 

Element of Fiction or Journalism (for example: character, setting, dialogue, 5 Ws): Symbols: The Home Help Sanitation Initiative and coloured toilets

Where and how does it occur? Give examples.: Hilly’s Home Help Sanitation Initiative appears throughout the entire novel and is one of the major symbols, events, and topics that are vastly explored throughout the book.  The toilet appears in many different contexts, from Aibileen’s employer family introducing the colored toilet into the home, the ladies of the Junior League attempting to put it in the newsletter and Skeeter fighting against doing so, and also Aibileen facing the struggles of trying to potty train Mae Mobley.

 How does it help create/promote the main idea(s) or theme(s) of the book?: The toilets represent in one of the most obvious ways what was socially acceptable in the time.  The Home Help Sanitation Initiative is a clear representation of the racial segregation in the communities and white households.  Also, as the boundaries begin to be broken and bent by various characters, the toilets also represent and depict that change.  As Skeeter discovers more from the maids, she herself realizes that the lines and rules are inappropriate and do not need to exist.  In rebellion of Hilly’s constant reinforcement of the racial segregation, she puts an ad in the Junior League newsletter asking for any old toilets to be left on Hilly’s front lawn. 
The initiative and coloured washrooms also depict the racism that took place during the time, which is also a hugely explored theme throughout the novel.