Good ghosts

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Gute Geister is a novel by the American writer Kathryn Stockett , which was published in 2009 under the original title The Help . The novel is about African American housekeepers who work in white families. The author's successful debut novel has been published in 35 countries and was successfully filmed in 2011 .

Table of contents

The story takes place in Jackson , Mississippi in the 1960s. It is primarily told from the first-person perspective of the three protagonists Aibileen, Minny and Skeeter.

The African American Aibileen is a housekeeper, takes care of the household for various white families and looks after the families' children. Her first job, which she takes on after her son Treelore's fatal accident, is at the Leefolt family home. There Aibileen takes care of the little daughter Mae Mobley.

Aibileen's argumentative friend Minny, who occasionally fights with her employers, has already been fired from her 19th employment. Minny's last employer was Mrs. Walters, mother of Hilly Holbrook. Hilly is an important person in the social life of the city of Jackson, chairman of the Junior League and archenemy of the three protagonists.

Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan is the daughter of a well-known and wealthy family who own several cotton fields and employ several African American employees in the fields and in the house. Skeeter has just finished college and dreams of becoming a writer, while her mother dreams of Skeeter getting married.

Skeeter wonders about the sudden disappearance of the housekeeper Constantine, who raised her and with whom she has a close relationship. Constantine wrote her several letters while Skeeter was in college, and in her final letter she announced a surprise on Skeeter's return. Skeeter's family later tells her that Constantine moved to live with her family in Chicago . Skeeter doesn't want to believe that and tries to find out more about the reasons for Constantine's disappearance. But nobody wants to talk to her about the former domestic servant.

Skeeter notes that African American housekeepers are treated differently from white domestic workers. She decides to write a book with the help of the editor Elaine Stein, in which she wants to show the social situation and the discrimination of these men and women. Skeeter tries to get in contact with the housekeepers and gain their trust in order to get authentic information. Together with Aibileen and Minny, Skeeter begins to write the book. The three women fight against the racism and prejudice in the minds of the people of Mississippi.

characters

  • Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan

Skeeter is returning to her hometown of Jackson after graduating from the University of Mississippi . There she tries to find a job and herself. This leads her to recognize the unequal treatment of African American domestic workers. Skeeter admires her mother and her friend Hilly, but fears disappointing them too. She runs a high risk of being discovered when she begins to write the book about the experiences of African American housekeepers.

  • Aibileen Clark

Aibileen is the housekeeper of Skeeter's friend Elizabeth Leefolt. She is a serious, shy, and thoughtful person. Every night she writes down her thoughts and prayers in a diary. The death of her son Treelore has embittered her and motivates her to support Skeeter with her book. The common goal of the two women is to overcome the deep-seated racism in Mississippi.

  • Minny Jackson

Minny is Aibileen's girlfriend. Her righteousness and her sharp tongue have gotten her into trouble several times and she has lost some jobs as a result. After she lost her job with Mrs. Walters, Hilly's mother, Aibileen found her a job with Celia Foote. Minny is married and is expecting her sixth child.

  • Hilly Holbrook

She has been friends with Skeeter and Elizabeth since childhood and is president of the Junior League in Jackson. When she and Skeeter were studying at the University of Mississippi, they shared a room until Hilly moves out to get married. Hilly's husband is running for a seat in the Senate, and Hilly tries to get all homeowners to have a separate bathroom for their African-American servants. Hilly likes to control people around her and bullies those who disagree with her.

  • Celia Rae Foote

She has recently moved to Jackson and is hiring Minny as a housekeeper. Celia cannot run her own household or cook. Her husband Johnny shouldn't find out that she has hired Minny. Celia suffered several miscarriages, which she also conceals from her husband.

  • Elizabeth Leefolt

She is friends with Hilly and Skeeter and Aibileen's employer. She is heavily influenced by Hilly. Elizabeth struggles to establish a maternal relationship with her daughter Mae Mobley, which is why Aibileen takes special care of Mae Mobley. She later has a son named Ross.

  • Charlotte Phelan

Demanding and bossy mother of Skeeter. She suffers from stomach cancer but has not come to terms with dying. Skeeter was never able to meet her mother's high expectations and wishes.

  • Stuart Whitworth

Hilly arranges a date between Stuart and Skeeter. Stuart is the son of a senator . He's charming and kind, but when he hears about Skeeter's book, he breaks off his engagement with her.

  • Leroy Jackson

Leroy is Minny's husband. He is often drunk and then violent towards his wife.

  • Constantine Bates

Was the housekeeper at Phelan's house. She teased Skeeter.

filming

The novel was made into a film in 2011 under the title The Help . Octavia Spencer won for her portrayal of Minny Jackson the Golden Globe Award and the Oscar as Best Supporting Actress .

Litigation

In 2011, Abilene Cooper, who had worked as a housemaid for Kathryn Stockett's brother for 12 years, claimed compensation of US $ 75,000 because her life story was used as a model for the fictional character Aibileen Clark without being asked. The lawsuit was dismissed by a Mississippi judge because it was not filed on time.

Book editions

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Sharon Churcher, Her family hired me as a maid for 12 years but then she stole my life and made it a Disney movie , Daily Mail, September 4, 2011
  2. ^ Matthew Belloni, 'The Help': Judge Tosses Lawsuit Claiming Character Stolen From Real-Life Maid , Hollywood Reporter, August 16, 2011

Web links