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Description
Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step. Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis
Summary
Setting is 1962 Jackson, MS. Point of view moves around from certain black maids to one naive white girl, fresh out of college, who wants to be a writer. She is advised to write a book , and submit to a certain editor. Her idea to interview the local maids turns into something none of the... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Cast of Characters/Important People
- Celia Foote: A white woman most of the women in town don't like because Hilly doesn't like her. Hilly doesn't like her because she is married to Hilly's ex-boyfriend that she never got over. She wants desperately to have children, but hasn't yet. She is also Minny's boss and often drives Minny crazy.
- Minny Jackson: Aibileen's best friend and amazing cook. But she back talks a lot and has lost a lot of jobs.
- Mae Mobley Leefolt: The little girl Aibileen looks after. She is still young and doesn't understand racism yet. She loves Aibileen and considers her her real mother because Aibileen loves her while Elizabeth Leefolt does not.
- Aibileen: A strong African American Woman, who works for a white family as a housemaid. She is caring, and has ultimate unconditional love for the small children she has raised.
- Miss Eugina (aka Skeeter) Phelan: A young woman who is freshly out of college, working on becoming a writer, and doesn't fit into the stereotype of your normal 60's woman.
- Miss Hilly Holbrook: A popular and powerful white woman. She thinks she is very superior to colored folk and enjoys having power over them. She strongly opposes anyone in her way and doesn't quit until she gets what she wants.
- Stuart Whitworth: The man Skeeter dates for a while. He is the Senator's son and works in the oil industry.
- Johnny Foote: Celia's husband and the ex-boyfriend Hilly never got over. He is pretty kind and appreciates Minny. He asks Minny to take care of his wife during the day and make sure she's happy.
- Mother: Deep down, she cares about Skeeter, but she is always nagging, critizing, and poking her nose in her daughter's business. She wants badly for her daughter to get married and has always shown disapproval of Skeeter.
- Constantine: Skeeter's maid when she was a young girl. Skeeter loved her and was able to go to her with problems. Constantine gave the approval Skeeter sought, but has disappeared when Skeeter returns home from college.
- Elizabeth Leefolt: Skeeter and Hilly's best friend. She doesn't really show much love to her children. She doesn't operate well without Hilly and will do just about anything Hilly asks.
- Leroy Jackson: A drunk and Minny's husband. He beats Minny often but fortunately, does not beat their children.
- Li'l Man: The other child Aibileen cares for and Mae Mobley's younger brother.
- Daddy: A good, honest man who cares for his family and treats his colored employees with respect. He is often tired after working in the cotton fields.
- Lulabelle: Add a description of this character.
- Lou Anne Templeton: A new friend of Hilly's.
- Missus Elaine Stein: An editor in New York who encourages Skeeter to continue to pursue her dream of being a writer.
- Robert Brown
- William Junior
- Miss Walters
- Miss Myrna
- Kindra Jackson: Minny's youngest child who has almost as bad an attitude as Minny herself.
- Missus Whitworth: The mother of Stuart. She is very protective over her son after he has had his heart broken by his ex-girlfriend.
- Carlton Jr.: Skeeter's brother who goes to law school.
Memorable Quotes
-
“How the first time his foot fell asleep and he say it tickle, I told him that was just his foot snoring.”
Aibileen -
“Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, we are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought.”
Ms. Skeeter -
“She's likee a Philistine on a Sunday, the way she won't take but so many steps a day. Except every day's Sunday around here.”
-
“....we ain't doing civil rights here. We just telling stories like they really happen.”
First Sentence
Mae Mobley was born on a early Sunday morning in August, 1960.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
AIBILEEN
Chapter 1 - August 1962
Chapter 2
MINNY
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
MISS SKEETER
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
AIBILEEN
Chapter 7
MISS SKEETER
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
MINNY
Chapter 10
MISS SKEETER
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
AIBILEEN
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
MINNY
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
MISS SKEETER
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
AIBILEEN
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
MINNY
Chapter 24
THE BENEFIT
Chapter 25
MINNY
Chapter 26
MISS SKEETER
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
AIBILEEN
Chapter 29
MINNY
Chapter 30
AIBILEEN
Chapter 31
MINNY
Chapter 32
MISS SKEETER
Chapter 33
AIBILEEN
Chapter 34
Acknowledgements
Too little, Too late
About the author
Authors & Contributors
- Kathryn Stockett (Author)
Awards
- Amazon.com's Best Books (November 2009: Editors' Picks, #19)
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